John Askey keen to net one more Shrewsbury Town deal

EFL clubs can still loan players in and out until tomorrow’s 5pm cut off and Askey is pressing on with a deal to bring in a 16th summer addition as cover to his defensive options.

The boss has loaned out senior players Luke Hendrie, Bryn Morris and Sam Jones and believes he is short of back-up options in one area.

“We’re still trying to work on a signing, whether that’ll come off for definite I don’t know,” said Askey.

“It’s as much for cover as it is anything else, to give the squad a better balance.

“If we can strengthen then we’ll try to. I can’t complain about the backing I’ve had from the football club.”

No more players will be leaving on loan. Askey had tried to send attacker Arthur Gnahoua out for first-team minutes but he will remain as cover with Abo Eisa carrying a knee injury.

He added: “I thought Arthur did really well (on Tuesday against Man City’s under-21s). With Eisa getting injured, I’d like to keep him within the squad as he gives us different options from that position.”

“Not so many to go out now, it’s more about getting one in.”

The Town boss is looking forward to returning to the Meadow for Saturday’s visit of Bristol Rovers and wants to get the stadium ‘rocking’ with a first league win.

“It’s always nice to get back home. The supporters have been really good, they’ve really got behind the players” he said.

“I’m sure they will against on Saturday. If we can get that win that we need then the place will be rocking.”

“We know the importance of the game.

It’ll be tough but there’s a good spirit among the players and hopefully we can go and get the three points we all want.

“They’ve been excellent, really vocal home and away. The players can’t complain about the supporters because they’ve really tried to lift them and got behind them.

“Hopefully it can be the case again on Saturday and we can give them something to shout about.”