Omar Beckles pleased to fight for Shrewsbury shirt

The towering centre-half is expected to be handed a chance in the heart of Paul Hurst’s defence as West Bromwich Albion’s under-21s head to Montgomery Waters Meadow in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight.

It will be just the third start for Town’s London-born defender since his summer switch from Accrington Stanley, where Hurst forked out a six-figure fee for his services.

But Beckles – who started the season with Stanley, scoring in one of his two appearances – has had to bide his time for a place in unbeaten League One leaders Shrewsbury’s first team.

The bubbly 25-year-old has risen through the football pyramid in each of the previous three years, climbing from the National League South to League One with St Albans, Aldershot, Accrington and now Shrewsbury.

“I guess back when I had no competition earlier (in my career) at other clubs, there was a sense of complacency that crept in,” said the 6ft 3in stopper, who started his first League One game last week at Doncaster since penning a three-year deal in the summer.

“But here we’ve got good competition, lads that can come in and start – as you saw with the Doncaster match – making four changes and still winning the game.

“The fact you have competition for places, boys that really want it, boys that are all hungry, it brings the best out of those that are starting because they’re watching their back and doing their best.

“I’m a strong believer in my ability. I definitely believe that I can kick on and go to the highest level.

“Once I get my opportunity to be in the side, if I do well and can be consistent then everybody is going to say ‘oh my gosh, he can actually play at this level.’ I’m sure I can surprise people.”

Aside from starts in the previous Checkatrade Group E tie at Coventry and at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium last week, ex-Millwall youngster Beckles – who went on to play for Boreham Wood, Billericay and Histon – has had to make do with two cameos off the bench in the league.

Toto Nsiala and Mat Sadler have continued their fine centre-half relationship from the tail-end of last season.

But Beckles has had time to admire what is in front of him from the Town bench, and insists a winning culture at table-toppers Shrewsbury has been ‘contagious’.

He said: “The boys have been doing really well but at the same time yes it’s a chance to stake my claim, hopefully my performance can do a bit of justice.

“Winning is contagious, not just to the starting line-up but to the whole squad, everyone has got the mentality and you can see everyone wants to win, we’ll definitely take it into the game.”

Town’s management expect visitors Albion to send a handful of first teamers to complement their inexperienced under-21s side.

Beckles is ready for the test of Premier League opposition.

“At the end of the day we prefer that,” he added.

“A lot of these Checkatrade games you get all of the kids playing and not a single experienced pro, so it’ll be a good challenge for us to go against some good pros and a bit of a scalp for us.”