Loanee Max Lowe looks to grow with Shrewsbury Town

The Derby County left-back could make his first league start for the club in tomorrow’s visit of mid-table Doncaster, writes Lewis Cox.

Lowe, 20, has already tasted FA Cup action against West Ham, 90 minutes in the Checkatrade Trophy and a cameo at Blackburn Rovers.

Town fans have been impressed by the early glimpses of Lowe, who made 12 appearances in his breakthrough season with Championship outfit Derby last term.

But the England youth international explained how the standards of playing for Shrewsbury took him by surprise in comparison with under-23s football at Derby.

“I’m at that age where I should be a man already, or turning into a man – so that’s what I need to be doing,” said Lowe.

“I’ve got to get many games under my belt and I’m looking forward to every game that I play in.”

The physicality and tempo – or lack of – is often a criticism aimed towards under-23 and academy football.

Lowe concurs: “Everything you hear about under-23s football is true. It’s not the same as League One or even League Two football.

“My first game was against Blackpool in the Checkatrade and it hit me hard. I thought ‘wow, I’ve got a long way to come before I’m happy with my standard of play’.

“A lot of younger lads do need that experience early and I’m happy I got out of that under-23s football and into the top of League One football

“In 23s football I’m one of the bigger lads in there and then coming to Shrewsbury I’m one of the smaller lads here.

“There are really good athletes here and it’s helped me learn a lot about what I need to be doing off the pitch, on the pitch and how my fitness needs to be if I’m not playing.

“The training is hard here. The first week hit my lungs hard and Blackpool topped it off! I’m hitting my stride now and I’m not miles away.”

With a long-term knee injury sidelining first-choice left-back Junior Brown, Lowe is competing with Omar Beckles for the spot.

Centre-half Beckles was targeted last weekend at Blackburn after picking up an early caution.

He said: “I want the shirt and I want to keep it for the whole season. I’ve spoken with Omar – he knows the crack.

“We both know it’s healthy competition. We’re just going to push each other in training and see what happens.

“As long as we get the results, that’s the important thing, but I want to play.”

Lowe revealed, while slightly daunted to be Hurst’s first signing of the January window, he was made to feel part of the group immediately.

When asked about the spirit behind the scenes he smiled: “I’ll tell you a story about banter.

“On my first day at the training ground I’d done my medical and all of that and gone back to the hotel up the road.

“I’d got a phone call off an unknown number and someone has put Doigy’s (assistant Chris Doig’s) accent on.

“They said ‘oh you need to come back for your shoe size’. I went back and all the lads were in the changing room and laughing!

“It was Dean Henderson and Joe (Riley). You need that among a squad.”