Paul Hurst keen for Shrewsbury Town to do battle with Aston Villa’s big-hitters
Paul Hurst is excited for his Shrewsbury ream to lock horns with one of this season’s Championship favourites.
Aston Villa head to Montgomery Waters Meadow on Saturday for Town’s first friendly on home soil – and more than 3,500 away seats have been made available for Villa fans.
The Town boss insisted his players will need no extra motivation for the visit of Steve Bruce’s side, boosted recently by the high-profile capture of ex-England skipper John Terry.
Hurst said: “It’s a fantastic club that will this season, I’m sure, be hoping for the return to the Premier League. It’s early days but I’m sure they’ll be looking again to impress their manager.
“They’ve made some new signings, I’m sure there will be some going the other way out of the football club, but they’ll certainly start the season as one of the favourites.”
“It’s a game that should care of itself in terms of lads’ focus. That’s again perhaps something that was missing on Tuesday.”
All nine new additions bar latest loanee Carlton Morris had a taste of Town football on Tuesday in Brackley, while the forward is expected to make his debut against Villa.
Meanwhile, Town’s Group E draw for this season’s Checkatrade Trophy competition has been completed.
West Bromwich Albion’s under-21s make up the quartet and will meet Shrewsbury, Walsall and Coventry in the draw.
