Jason Cummings accepts spell on Shrewsbury Town bench
Sam Ricketts says star Shrewsbury striker Jason Cummings understands his recent omission from the Town line-up.
High-profile deadline day capture Cummings has been given a breather from the action as Shrewsbury attempt to build up his fitness.
Scotland international Cummings’ Montgomery Waters Meadow career started with a bang as he thrashed in four goals in eight games.
But the former Hibernian and Nottingham Forest man did not train in pre-season went six outings without a goal before Ricketts decided to pull him out of the sides that took on Oxford and Coventry.
“Jason has had a real stop-start 12 months or a little bit longer,” Ricketts said.
“He had no pre-season this year because he wasn’t featuring at Nottingham Forest.
“He came in with a bang with his performances and goals and then (had) the natural lull afterwards from missing pre-season.
“It’s a slow one with Jason and he appreciates that. It’s one where we need to keep improving his fitness.
“It’s not just that, it’s allowing him to relax and enjoying playing football with a solid base of work underneath him to allow that.”
Cummings came off the bench with seven minutes to go against the Sky Blues last Saturday and showed his class in the build-up to Shaun Whalley’s winner.
Ricketts added: “We bring him on for 10 minutes because he’s a goalscorer and he set one up with some hold-up play, vision and running to the front post which leaves Shaun to score.”
Town flier Whalley and Wolves loanee Ryan Giles were key to the fine comeback victory against Coventry.
The duo, who have only started seven games together this term – five in the first month of the season – arrived from the bench for influential cameos.
Boss Ricketts, whose side visit another promotion contender in Blackpool on Saturday, revealed starting line-ups are about striking a balance.
He added: “You have to get a balance to every game, respect what the opposition are going to do against you.
“I’m sure there’s games they have started together, there’s no reason why they couldn’t do.
“At the start of the season Ryan played with Scotty Golbourne out the team and then Scotty’s come in and has been outstanding. You have to take your chances when you play. That’s what the players are certainly doing at the minute.”
