Comment: Wingers are the final piece of Shrewsbury jigsaw
As we head into the final full week of the January transfer window it is clear there is still some business to be conducted at Shrewsbury Town.
Paul Hurst has so far been able to bolster his already watertight backline thanks to the arrivals of Max Lowe and Luke Hendrie.
But it is in offensive areas that the necessary captures are needed to really provide Town with that required mid-season boost to help them continue a thrilling season.
The boss has made no secret of the fact he wants to bring some wingers through the door to challenge Alex Rodman and Shaun Whalley for the wide positions.
Hurst missed out on on target, thought to be Sheffield United’s Nathan Thomas, late in the summer transfer window, leaving the inexperienced Arthur Gnahoua – who was playing for Kidderminster last season – as the only wide option for competition.
The boss has hinted at more than one addition in wide areas. He has suggested that at least one will boast some Football League experience – a player more in the mould of Rodman with games under his belt than another Gnahoua.
The new additions will not necessarily come in as replacements. Both Whalley and Rodman have enjoyed handy seasons so far, particularly in the early stages.
They have nine and five goals each as well as a number of assists. But Shrewsbury’s boss has suggested that, at times, they have not quite had the competition within Town’s ranks to push them on.
Having those options there to call upon, either from the bench or for midweek nights when the games stack up, will be crucial in how Town can attack the remaining three months of the campaign.
Hurst will also keep his eye out for another central midfield option. It is a lesser priority than the wide areas, given the success of Ben Godfrey, Abu Ogogo and Jon Nolan this season.
But having seen a midfield loan leave in Ebou Adams, should the right player become available, Hurst may add to his central midfield ranks. Ball-playing midfielder Bryn Morris is set to play his part in the run-in.
While the boss has never said he has masses of riches available to him to push on for a possible tilt at the Championship beyond this month, he has revealed there is a ‘little bit’ of cash in the pot to target attacking talents.
It has surprised supporters to hear Hurst insist on more than one occasion that he is not interested in adding to his centre-forward ranks in the remaining 10 days of the window.
Hurst this week threw his weight behind current options for his lone striking role, Stefan Payne and Carlton Morris, to deliver again as both have found hitting the back of the net tough in recent times.
Top scorer Payne, who missed a gilt-edged chance in the midweek FA Cup clash at West Ham, has just one goal in 12 outings and Morris – while winning plaudits for his all-round game – is without a goal in 15.
Both may be low on confidence but it will do their belief the world of good to hear that Hurst is in no rush to replace them with another centre-forward this month.
With Lenell John-Lewis, who has not started in the league at all this season, as third and final choice of the natural striking trio, the Town boss has decided they are enough.
The 4-1-4-1 formation is why Hurst does not want to add to his striking numbers. He wants a tight-knit squad, as opposed to ‘too many’ numbers leading to players becoming frustrated.
And with just one striker playing each game, he feels there is not need to add another one. Hurst’s priority for the remainder of this window is in the wide areas. While he has been frustrated and seen targets swiped by other clubs, he has his eyes set on exciting wide players that can help boost Shrews’ chances.
It will be a boost to all involved to see another attacking face or two come through the doors at Montgomery Waters Meadow – and that could be the spark that fires them into dreamland come May.
