Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst happy with Luke Hendrie’s impact

Town manager Paul Hurst wants new-boy Luke Hendrie to trust that the Shrews chief has his best interests at heart.

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The boss admitted leaving the signing from Burnley out has been a difficult call but Hendrie impressed at Fleetwood in the week after assuring Hurst that he was ‘champing at the bit’ to be involved in the action.

Fellow January acquisition Sam Jones – signed from Grimsby – is taking time to build up to Shrewsbury’s level of sharpness, as well as nursing tendinopathy in his knee.

Hurst said: “Luke has done very well in the couple of games he’s played and it’s really difficult for me as manager.

“We had a chat the other day. His words were that he’s champing at the bit to get involved. It’s hard because I’m sat at the other side of the desk and I can’t say anything other than I’m really pleased with him and I’m delighted he’s part of the squad.

“But Bolts (James Bolton) has done extremely well and when it comes to the matchday squad I’m looking at it and I haven’t felt I’ve needed Luke on there.

“It’s a hard one but he has to trust me that I’m genuinely pleased with him and happy.”

“He did well again the other night.”

Hurst added on Jones: “Sam has found it more difficult in terms of fitness. On Thursday we trained on the 4G with a split group and he hasn’t been able to do that.

“One thing we don’t want to do is aggravate that further.

“He’s one that is taking a little bit more time to get where we want. He’d been ill prior to coming in as well which doesn’t help.

“But he’ll get there. He wasn’t signed simply with next season in mind, but there’s an element of it’s long-term.”

“He’s already showed me certain things that will boost the squad. In my head there’s no rush, in his he’s wanting to get involved as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, defender Dom Smith returned to the club from his loan at Southport but is not currently involved with Hurst’s first-team squad.