Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury boss John Askey explores further options in goalkeeper hunt

John Askey is ready to explore further options in Shrewsbury’s search for new goalkeepers.

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The Town boss is taking another fresh shot-stopper on trial while the club are looking at the potential of another loanee from a top English club.

The latter move would be a loan, similar to that of Dean Henderson from Manchester United last season.

The move to bring a promising keeper from a Premier League side worked successfully and Town are open to the idea of repeating a similar deal – even if they have to wait for the right man.

Askey admits it is a ‘vital’ position for Shrewsbury to get right.

He said: “I’ve got another one in tomorrow, (and) another in the pipeline that we’re hoping will come through from a bigger club.

“There are players out there, it’s just getting the right ones. The two that came in, I didn’t think were right.

“Just because we need a keeper doesn’t mean we go and sign the first one.

“The same thing happened last year, Henderson coming from United was a late one. We’ll just have to wait and see but I’m sure we’ll get the right one.

“It’s so important you have a decent keeper. Without one you’re never going to win anything and you’re going to struggle.

“It’s a vital position and we’ve got to get it right.”

Town used a trialist, who has been training with the club this summer, in goal for 45 minutes during yesterday’s 3-0 behind-closed-doors friendly win over Kidderminster.

First-year professional keeper Cameron Gregory played the second half.

Previous trial keepers Jake Kean and Nick Townsend were not deemed good enough to take on by Askey and his coaching staff.

Askey’s first match as Shrewsbury manager was won courtesy of new signing Fejiri Okenabirhie’s brace and Abo Eisa’s solo strike.

Town used different XIs either side of half-time in the game at Lilleshall and scored all three goals inside half an hour.

Assistant boss John Filan said afterwards: “We have had a couple weeks now of work in pre-season but nothing can replace playing football against opposition in a proper set-up.

“We had two teams out which was good. The conditions were difficult, the pitch wasn’t great but I think we applied ourselves pretty well overall and it’s something we can build on.

“We got off to a quick start and got some goals. We could have had a lot more to be honest. We were impressed with some of the effort of the players.

“We saw little shoots of understanding of what the manager wants, that is what we’re looking for at the start. So, overall a good exercise and we move on.”