Goal hero Lenell John-Lewis backing Shrewsbury to defy odds

The summer signing from Newport County opened his blue and amber account in style, netting in the third minute of added time as Paul Hurst’s side claimed a first opening-day victory since 2010.

The 28-year-old suffered horrific injury problems with the Exiles last season but banished those after arriving from the bench with 11 minutes to play, turning home Alex Rodman’s cross.

With Shrewsbury widely tipped as favourites for the drop, the 28-year-old front man claimed predictions mean little to the squad, who will work hard to upset the odds.

“It definitely sends out a message,” said the match-winner. “We know what we’ve got in the camp and that’s important, we know the strengths of each and every one of us, we know we can go into each game competing and looking to get wins.

“Outside of football doesn’t really matter to us, we’re going to keep working hard and producing on the pitch.”

John-Lewis has put in extra hours to reach maximum fitness after his move to Shrewsbury.

“I’ve worked extremely hard through the last 12 to 18 months,” he said. “There are a lot of hours that people don’t see that I put in and some one-on-one work with people that have done wonders for me.

“It’s not just me. The whole team, we’ve worked very hard this pre-season. We had a poster up at the training ground which said how many miles we’d run and we were all astonished ourselves – it’s nice to see it paying off.”

After his goal heroics from the bench, he is ready to push for a start, adding: “I’m ready to go from the off. I’m fit as they come, I’m ready to go. I think I’m in the best shape in my whole career.”

John-Lewis’ former Newport and Grimsby team-mate Rodman put in an electric display on Saturday and the forward was impressed with what he saw.

“He came to play,” added the Town striker. “It was nice to see him on the top of his game, it’s a nice watch, he was fantastic but everyone was.”