Shrewsbury waiting game is finally over for patient Bryn Morris

But the midfielder has focused on staying physically and mentally sharp ahead of the chance he always knew would come his way.

Now the former England schoolboy is intent on building on Tuesday’s draw at Northampton, just the fourth 90 minutes of Morris’s League One season.

And with a crucial run of league fixtures on the horizon, as well as a Wembley final, Morris now looks set to play a defining role for Paul Hurst’s high-fliers.

Hurst credited Morris as a ‘top professional’ earlier this week. The 21-year-old has patiently waited for his chance despite finding it a a tough watch, at times, from the sidelines.

“It’s just being ready when you’re called upon,” said the ball-playing midfielder. “I’ve stayed in good mental and physical shape so I’m ready for it.

“I always knew opportunities were going to come. They come when you really don’t expect it, I suppose. It’s staying fit, doing extra after training even when not playing.

“It would have been easy to let the season keep going on and take the easy way out really.”

Morris, who signed at Montgomery Waters Meadow permanently last summer after spending the second half of last season with Town, has started 15 of 49 games this season.

He has been kept out of Hurst’s side by the form of Abu Ogogo, Ben Godfrey and Jon Nolan.

He added: “It’s definitely a difficult one when you’re sat on the bench and the lads are out there doing really well.

“You’re a footballer. You want to be part of it, in that starting XI every week.

“Obviously you’re happy to see the boys doing really well. You’re a part of it no matter what, if you’re not even getting in the squad you’re still training with the team every day.

“But you’re going to enjoy it that bit more, naturally, if you’re in the starting line-up every week.

“They’ve done very well but, for me personally, that could’ve been me if I hadn’t got injured at the start of the season.

“It could’ve been me with those run of games, the good performances, I could’ve been part of them.

“I still back myself whenever I go out there to put in a really good shift and job for the team.”

AFC Wimbledon head into tomorrow’s clash in indifferent form. Neal Ardley’s men have won just two from nine in the league and are just two places and points clear of the bottom four.

Hurst, who has skipper Ogogo suspended and Godfrey injured, has challenged his side to prove they are not a one-man team.

“I wouldn’t want to be part of a team – as much respect as I have for Abs – that as soon as he comes out it all goes to pieces,” said the boss.

“I would be like ‘no we’re better than that. Yes we’d ideally like him in the team, but come on, let’s get together and show we’re not one-man. I’ve been thinking recently who would be player of the season. I could make arguments for a lot of players and a lot of people would have different views.

“Maybe Abs wouldn’t be at the top of many people’s lists so we know we’ve still got other good players.

“But Abs just has a habit of winning, that’s what he’s brought to us. He sets us off when we are hunting the ball down. He’s often the first there making them uneasy.

“Overall I’d like to think we’re far better than one player is, albeit we really like him and respect what he does to us.”