Impressive Toto Nsiala displays no surprise to Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst

The Congolese defender has established himself as a key main in Hurst's Town team with some powerful display at the heart of the blue and amber defence.

Nsiala, who will celebrate a year with Town on January 1, was the only member of Hurst's squad rested during Tuesday's Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Walsall.

The ex-Everton trainee has made 19 appearances this season. His form throughout October earned a nomination for the PFA Player of the Month award, while his performance in last weekend's thumping win over Aldershot won plaudits from Hurst.

"He (Toto) showed the attitude and commitment that I ask of the players," said Hurst. "He looked like he would do anything needed to make sure they didn't score.

"That's credit to him. People sometimes ask questions about Toto's mentality or attitude – that's been and gone and is well in the past.

"That was a performance that I want the rest of the players to take note.

"I pointed Toto out to the players (after the Aldershot win). I asked them 'who got the man of the match?' It perhaps seems strange after a 5-0 win, but I was going to say if it wasn't Toto, then whoever gets it needs to give it to Toto."

Nsiala has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the leagues. He struggled through moves from Accrington to Southport three years ago.

Then came a progressive spell under Hurst at Grimsby, where he earned a switch to League Two Hartlepool.

But there remained question marks from Town supporters when the boss made the 25-year-old his first Shrewsbury signing in the winter transfer window.

Hurst added: "It doesn't really surprise me. He's just doing what I know he can do. But what he is done is showing it against better players most weeks.

"That's the step up in level. He took on the mantle of leader at Peterborough. l know we lost the game but, in truth, we didn't give them too many chances until the end of the game with Sads (Mat Sadler) not being alongside him.

"Toto is the one that catches the eye. If someone's going to shoot from the edge of the box, he's the man you want in the team closing the ball down and putting his body on the line."