What to expect from Shrewsbury singing sensation Sam Jones

The midfielder completed his last-gasp move to Shrewsbury from Grimsby Town on deadline day last month but has so far made just a brief cameo from the bench at Bristol Rovers.

Paul Hurst has said the former Leeds youngster is getting his fitness up to speed while he also has a form of tendinitis in his knee.

Jones gave up football after picking up a serious injury as a young player and went travelling in Australia. But since returning to the UK he has climbed up the football pyramid, featuring for the likes of Alfreton Town and Gateshead.

James Findlater, Grimsby reporter at the Grimsby Telegraph, tells Town fans what they can expect from the 26-year-old.

What position does Sam Jones play?

Jones’ best performances have come when he’s played in the No.10 role, sitting in just behind the striker, although he is capable of playing in most attacking roles.

It’s possible he could also do a job in a slightly more conventional midfield role, although we never really saw him used there while he was at Grimsby Town.

What sort of character is he?

Sam has a lot of belief in himself, and that comes across when you speak to him. He spent some time away from football after being released by Leeds United’s academy and some injuries, but after heading to Australia for a short period, he seems to have come back with renewed confidence.

What type of player is he?

Attack is definitely Jones’ strong suit. He’s a strong player, and likes to pick the ball up around the edge of the box to take on defenders.

He seems to have worked his way up through the leagues – fitting Paul Hurst’s mould?

He does, and it will be interesting to see how Hurst utilises him. Jones was brought to Town by Marcus Bignot, so unlike players such as Jon Nolan and Alex Rodman, this will be the first time Hurst has dealt with the 26-year-old – although it would be interesting to know whether he had kept tabs on him during his time at Blundell Park.

Hurst is always very clear about what he expects from his players, and even as one of his more attacking players, I suspect Jones will be called upon to do his fair share of defensive duties.

I could also imagine that, should he get his opportunity, Jones may also be used out wide. During the short time he had with Grimsby in the Football League before his move to Shrewsbury, Hurst signed Dominic Vose on loan from Scunthorpe, and often played him out on the wing – and also managed to get quite an attack-minded player to track back and help out his defence, so I can certainly see Jones fitting a similar mould.

Can he succeed in League One or even higher?

There’s no doubting Jones’ talent and ability, it’s just a question of how to get the best out of him. He showed that he can certainly make it in League Two, but League One will no doubt be a much different prospect – particularly at a club that are eyeing up promotion to the Championship.

Are there any weaknesses or areas for improvement?

As mentioned previously, Hurst is likely to expect Jones to do plenty of defensive work, but he’ll have to make sure his new signing doesn’t overstep the line.

Jones was shown a straight red at Stevenage earlier this season for a dangerous tackle, and there have been a few occasions when his challenges have left him walking a tightrope in games, so Hurst may need to curb that intent somewhat.

During his last few weeks with Grimsby, Jones appeared to be somewhat lacking in the confidence that had previously made him such a dangerous opponent. He scored just one goal in his last 16 games with the Mariners, and didn’t seem to carry the same threat on the ball as he had previously, often spending too long with it at his feet.

If Hurst is able to help him rediscover that confidence, Shrewsbury could have a real player on their hands.