Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts to be a loan arranger

Ricketts is attempting to trim his Montgomery Waters Meadow squad this month after already seeing two players leave.

The Town chief must decide on the future of four senior players whose loan deals expire throughout January – and has stressed he will let players leave if they are not in his plans.

Midfielder Bryn Morris, who played 30 games for Shrewsbury last term, has returned from a successful loan at Wycombe, who were not able to strike a permanent deal for the midfielder.

Attackers Sam Jones and Arthur Gnahoua and defender Luke Hendrie also return to Town this month with futures up in the air.

“Everyone’s loans finish at different dates, forgive me I don’t know the exact date on all of them,” said Ricketts. “Bryn was back in training with the group yesterday.

“The case with all players is seeing where they’re at, will they benefit the group? Is it right for the individual to stay here or play elsewhere?

“I’ve not made my mind up on all of them. You have a feeling really, and football changes so quickly.

“I try to be fair to all players as well. From a selfish point of view they can all stay here, great, I’ve got so many players to pick from every week it’s perfect.

“But you have to try and be fair for players as well. If they’re not getting as much game time as they would like you have to help them as well.

“We’re all human beings and it’s nice to treat someone as a human being rather than a commodity.”

Ricketts continued: “From a selfish point of view I’ll keep everyone here. It’s not always fair on the players, you want to allow them to go and play.

“They all grew up wanting to play football. If they’re not playing as regularly as they would like we help them go and play every week.”

Town will receive a cash windfall of around £1million as the permanent sale of Ryan Woods to Stoke was confirmed for a fee reported as £6.5m.

The midfielder came through Shrewsbury’s ranks and is set to feature against Salop for the Potters today in his first competitive return.

Shrewsbury are believed to have placed a 20 per cent sell-on clause of any profit Brentford make on a future sale when he left Town in 2015.

Chief executive Brian Caldwell has said that such windfalls are paid out over a time period, rather than in one transaction.