Inside track on Shrewsbury Town new-boy Luke Hendrie

The 23-year-old had been on loan at Bradford from the Premier League club. He has played 18 times for Town’s League One rivals this term.

Our Town reporter Lewis Cox spoke with Bradford reporter Simon Parker, from the Telegraph and Argus, about what the versatile Yorkshireman has to offer.

What position does Luke Hendrie play?

He is technically a right-back but he can also play as a left-back or in defensive midfield. He can slot in comfortably in any of those.

He is perfect in the fact he can play more than one position. It’s great for the situation Shrewsbury are in.

He doesn’t look like he is a right-back playing left-back when he is out on the left.

What sort of character is he?

He is a really level-headed person and not at all big time because he was at Burnley. He was not first-choice for Bradford originally but did not moan. He is not the player to whinge.

Hendrie is very even-tempered and perfect for the dressing room.

His main position is a full-back – what type of full-back can Town fans expect?

He is athletic but will not burst forward. He is a defender first and not a winger.

He is solid and dependable – that is the word I’d use for him. He did not have a bad game for the Bantams, always did a job.

He has had quite a bit of experience for a 23-year-old

He’s played quite a lot of games. He did well in the Scottish Premier with Kilmarnock, Lee Clark loved him!

He was also thrown in the deep end with York as a youngster. For his age, Luke has played quite a lot of games.

He’s not glamorous as in playing with academies when he was young but he will get the job done and not rock the boat.

Bradford left-back Adam Chicksen has been injured for a while and Tony McMahon has been in and out. He filled in. He is a Bradford fan with a strong Bradford connection and everyone wanted the deal done.

Could he make the step up to the Championship?

I see no reason why Hendrie couldn’t be a player Town could use if they won promotion to the Championship.

Any weaknesses?

A weakness would be that he is not a full-back that overlaps. He will get forward when he needs to.

But looking at Shrewsbury when I’ve seen them that type of bombing on full-back is not something they really need or the way they play.