Goals and games the aim for Shrewsbury Town's Stefan Payne
Shrewsbury Town hitman Stefan Payne is determined to get more football under his belt and improve on last season’s goal tally.
The 26-year-old top goalscorer netted 14 times in 51 Town appearances last season, of which just 24 were starts. Particularly after Christmas, Payne regularly found himself on the bench behind loanee Carlton Morris.
Last summer’s permanent signing from Barnsley scored seven times in his first 11 outings at the beginning of last season.
But he went from January 1 to March 24 without a start in the league under Paul Hurst.
And Payne, whose Montgomery Waters Meadow deal lasts for another season, hopes he will get a better crack of the whip as Town first-choice centre-forward under John Askey.
“On a personal level I’m getting to that age now where I want to be playing week in, week out,” said Payne, who has also had spells at Gillingham, Aldershot and Dover.
“Personally, you throw it out if the window for the team because we’d done so well, whatever happened we just wanted to be promoted.
“I just want to rest up and go again next year.
“With limited playing time I showed what I can do, being top scorer. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to.
“My aim is to play more games and hopefully score more goals.”
Fellow striker Lenell John-Lewis – who chipped in with three goals in 45 games across all competitions last term – is one of several Shrewsbury players mulling over a new contract offer.
In terms of tied-down striking options, Town have 18-year-old academy graduate John McAtee – who spent the end of last campaign on loan at AFC Telford United – along with new signing Fejiri Okenabirhie, who arrived last week from Dagenham & Redbridge for an undisclosed fee.
Salop were set to learn their Carabao Cup fate this morning.
The-first round draw was taking place in Vietnam (10.45am BST), with Askey’s side in the northern section along with the likes of Walsall, Wigan, Blackburn, Derby and Middlesbrough.
Meanwhile, former Shrewsbury keeper Shaun Rowley has joined National League outfit FC Halifax.
The 21-year-old, who came through the club’s academy, was released at the end of last season.
Rowley tweeted: “New challenge with Halifax, can’t wait to get started.”
