Lee Angol is urged to push for a Shrewsbury Town recall by Sam Ricketts
Boss Sam Ricketts has told hitman Lee Angol to keep working hard to force his way into the Shrewsbury first team.
The centre-forward netted a hat-trick during yesterday’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Burton Albion in the Central League Cup.
Angol, who joined in the summer from Mansfield, has been out of Town’s League One matchday squad since the defeat at Oxford on October 27.
The 24-year-old showed ice-cool composure for this three goals as Shrewsbury progressed as South Central winners in the development competition.
Ricketts, who took a watching brief, has called on the striker to keep taking his chances.
He said: “I’m delighted for Lee, it was about fitness and trying to get some confidence in players. Him scoring a hat-trick has hopefully done that for him.
“He took his goals really well and I’m really pleased for him.”
Ricketts continued on the forward, who has been out of the reckoning in League One: “He is in a situation where the team is in a good place. He has to continue to work hard and score goals like he did to force an opportunity.
“And then when that opportunity arises then he has to take it like anyone does.
“The lads in the team have to continue to play well to stay in the team and the lads out of it have to try extra hard to get into it.”
Another who impressed in yesterday’s victory over the Brewers was diminutive midfielder James Rowland.
The former West Brom youngster, who turned 17 last week, showed a good range of passing and claimed an assist for Angol’s third goal.
Ricketts added: “He has an attitude to work hard and an ability on the ball.
“I think if you have an attitude to work hard in the right ways then you’ll go an awfully long way in your football career.
“You need ability on top of that but the work rate is the bigger and most important thing.”
