Paul Hurst: Shrewsbury Town Fans must wait to see real Sam Jones
Shrewsbury chief Paul Hurst admits fans will not see the best of midfielder Sam Jones until next season.
The January transfer deadline day signing from Grimsby Town made his full Town debut in Tuesday night’s League One home defeat against Charlton.
Prior to that 26-year-old Jones had made just two cameos totalling eight minutes for Hurst’s side.
The boss admitted that former non-league man Jones, who is signed up until the summer of 2020, is still building up his fitness – and will not reach the levels Shrewsbury demand until next season.
“I said during the (first) half and at half-time, I’ve seen enough already to suggest he can do a really good job for us,” said Hurst on the former Alfreton and Gateshead man. “What Sam isn’t is being able to be out there for 90 minutes.
“We’ve tried and tried and at the minute we can’t get him to where we want to be yet.
“I think that’s how he arrived, although he’s been with us a while. He has an issue with his knee at times.
“For me he’s one of those that comes in the category of can’t wait to get him in for a full pre-season and make him work and get him how we want him.
“He has at least shown he can go out there and shown some of the qualities he can bring to us.”
Meanwhile, Hurst assured fans he ‘will not lose sleep’ over Town’s wobble of form that has failed to see them score in three outings.
“I’ve always said you can’t get too high and too low. People that have that personality or allow themselves to get too carried away – the chances are they’ll get kicked in the nether regions and really be affected by it.
“I have a desire to win,” Hurst assured. “How that comes across at times might be different in different environments at times, but I’m not going to go home and lose sleep over this.
“I’m going to go and think about what team I can put out and just try and get the players going. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. There’s a lot to be proud of with this group of players and season.
“At the minute it feels as though, with a few injuries and key moments, that it’s not going our way.”
“We’ve got to try and be the ones to change that. “
