Shropshire Star

Omar Beckles central to Shrewsbury Town plans

Sam Ricketts insists defender Omar Beckles has got a future at centre-back for Shrewsbury Town.

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Beckles has been played out of position for almost the entirety of his Shrewsbury career, having to pitch in at left-back.

The 27-year-old came on in the heart of defence during the closing stages against Stoke and won praise from Ricketts, before 90 minutes wearing the captain’s armband in midweek at Port Vale.

The powerful stopper, who has recovered from a groin injury over Christmas, has made no secret of his desire to play in his natural position and, after discussing it with the boss, Ricketts is happy to oblige.

“I’ve spoke to Omar and we’ve had this conversation about position-wise,” said Ricketts of Beckles, who is contracted at Town until summer 2020.

“And I tend to agree that I think he’s filling in at left-back and has done an excellent job. You don’t play the amount of games he’s done there without playing well.

“But I do see him as a centre-half, I want to give him an opportunity to play there.

“He came on against Stoke, in difficult circumstances in that situation, and I thought he was excellent when he came on.

“In five or 10 minutes he handled himself very well and got up to the speed of the game very well.

“I do more see him as a centre-half to be fair.”

Beckles first deputised at left-back under Paul Hurst when Junior Brown injured his ACL in October 2017. He played the whole of the 2017/18 season there and has now been knocked from his perch by Ryan Haynes, a natural left-sided defender signed in the summer.

Beckles is right footed and, while confident on his left, wants Shrewsbury fans to see him playing regularly at centre-back.

Ricketts continued: “I think all players excel in something. If it’s Omar’s athleticism then he needs to make sure he brings it to the game every game.

“Centre-half and left-back cause you different problems, different levels of concentration needed, different physical attributes.

“It’ll be a case of him getting used to playing centre-half again and making sure he brings the attributes needed.”

Beckles is battling with skipper Mat Sadler and summer signing Luke Waterfall for a place in the middle.

The club’s other centre-half, Kieran Kennedy, is free to leave Town this month.