Shropshire Star

Fleetwood v Shrewsbury preview: Ollie Norburn is vowing to make up for lost time

He’s 26 later this month – and you won’t find Ollie Norburn wasting any more time of his football career.

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The midfielder feels he had let enough years slip down the drain and is ready to make up for lost time after re-discovering his love for the game.

For that he credits two managers connected with Shrewsbury Town. The current occupant, John Askey, and former boss Micky Mellon.

Mancunian Norburn, Town’s club-record signing from Mellon’s Tranmere in the summer, took time to nail down his position in Askey’s Shrewsbury starting XI after a couple of niggling injuries. Since breaking in more than a month ago, he has not looked back.

Alongside the likes of Anthony Grant, Greg Docherty and Josh Laurent – he is part of a talented blue and amber midfield. But Norburn seems like Askey’s go-to man. If Shrews are to take anything from an impressive Fleetwood side tomorrow, he will have been influential.

Norburn began his career with Leicester, where a youth loan at Bristol Rovers became permanent and he enjoyed an early taste of the Football League as an 18-year-old. Unfortunately, it was not all plain sailing.

He said: “Bristol Rovers got relegated and I went to Plymouth, I got the opportunity to stay in League Two and to be honest I didn’t take that opportunity.

“I didn’t play many games and missed being at home at that age.

“It was about getting the love back for the game. I started enjoying my football again, I played under the gaffer for a season at Macclesfield and that’s where I started enjoying my football a lot again.

“I had a good season with Tranmere and won promotion. It was all about getting the love back for the game, enjoying it with a smile on my face.”

Then-Macclesfield boss Askey played a significant part in Norburn’s resurgence having dropped into the National League.

The midfielder continued: “I think he let me go out and play my game, enjoy myself. He knew I could play and knew where I could improve. He always pulled me aside and told me.

“Micky Mellon helped me last year with other things in my game and we won promotion. I want to improve even more.”

Norburn was regularly catching the eye at National League level, so much so that big names of League One were hovering. The midfielder, however, decided on a reunion with Askey.

“It was always something that I wanted (to progress). Especially when I got back enjoying the game, I wanted to play higher,” he added.

“s soon as I heard League One it was a no-brainer for me – that’s what I wanted.

“I’ve wasted time, I feel, in my younger years and I don’t want to waste any more time.

“I’ve settled down with my missus and got a baby girl. They’re a massive part of my life. I’m focusing on football more.”

One midfielder unavailable to Askey for tomorrow’s clash at Highbury Stadium is on-loan Chelsea man Charlie Colkett, who is recovering from a minor foot injury at the Stamford Bridge club.

Winger Abo Eisa (knee) is still out, but is set to return to training next week.

Striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway is over the knock that sidelined him last weekend.

The opposition

Joey BARTON has assembled a squad at Fleetwood capable of challenging in League One’s top six.

The Cod Army have a squad full of goals and, having seen some injury luck finally fall their way, look in a good position to string a run of positive results together.

They have lacked consistency. Barton’s first job as a boss has been up and down but he still finds a side in 10th and well capable of climbing higher.

Consistency should become less of a problem for Barton now he has key players available.

Fleetwood play a 4-4-2 that is likely to see seasoned goalscorers Ched Evans and Paddy Madden combine.

That duo know where the net is. They are served manfully by wingers Ash Hunter and Ross Wallace.

The former has nine assists already this term and the latter has bags of experience. Fleetwood, who have only won once at home, raised eyebrows last weekend as they ripped Doncaster to shreds 4-0 on the road.

It was a first clean sheet since August and no coincidence that it coincided with experienced defender Craig Morgan’s return to the team. The only first-team player Fleetwood are missing is left-back James Husband (hamstring), who is back with parent club Norwich.

Right-back Lewie Coyle will switch over and could be an area John Askey’s Shrewsbury can target.

This week Barton described Coyle’s impact as Fleetwood’s answer to Denis Irwin. Midfielder Dean Marney (groin) and attacker Conor McAleny (hamstring) are working their way back to fitness and could feature.

Fleetwood went more than a month without winning before their Doncaster success, so Barton will be keen to see that win prove some kind of springboard.

Askey said: “With the appointment of Joey Barton then they’re trying to do that (crack the top six).

“He wouldn’t have gone there if they weren’t going to spend money. You look at the players they’ve got, they’ve got good players that have played at a higher level.

“It’s up to us to go there and show what we can do.”

After three clean sheets on the bounce and two decent wins, the Cod Army will prove a real test of Town’s League One credentials.

Dangerman

Ched Evans

Has looked too good for League One in previous seasons. Joined the Cod Army on loan after a poor season with Sheffield United in the Championship and looks reinvigorated, scoring six times in 10 outings. His career has been plagued with off-field issues but the Wales international, now 29, is a goalscorer.

Key man

Lee Angol

Likely to keep his place as the lone striker despite Fejiri Okenabirhie’s midweek heroics. Needs to perform to keep place.

Memory lane

The sides have met six times in the league – Town winning the last two. Shaun Whalley and Nathan Thomas struck at Highbury in February.

Pie and a pint

Jim’s Sports Bar, at the back of the Memorial Stand, is open from 12pm and admits away fans. Pies are very reasonably priced at Highbury Stadium, at £3.

Predicted teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3): Coleman; Emmanuel, Waterfall, Sadler (c), Beckles; Grant, Norburn, Docherty; Whalley, Angol, Gilliead.

Subs: Arnold (gk), Haynes, Bolton, Barnett, Laurent, Okenabirhie, John-Lewis, Arnold (gk).

Fleetwood (4-4-2): Cairns; Sheron, Morgan, Eastham, Coyle; Hunter, Taylor, J Wallace, R Wallace; Evans, Madden.