Fearless new Shrewsbury Town starlet Nathanael Ogbeta can keep getting better
Fearless new Shrewsbury wing-back Nathanael Ogbeta will only get better with each game after an eye-catching start to life at Town, claim his captain and stand-in boss.
The former Manchester City teenager, 19, could hardly have enjoyed a more positive impression after two supremely comfortable displays against Peterborough and Crewe this week – the first two appearances of his senior career.
Ogbeta, a product of the Manchester City academy, was revealed to have a financial hit to opt to pursue senior first-team football with Shrewsbury and has been a revelation so far with two lightning performances from left wing-back.
"If you look at the end, it was the 19-year-old who was driving us on in the late stages, that's big heart from him and a big character to do that," Aaron Wilbraham said of Ogbeta's performance in the narrow defeat to Crewe on Tuesday. "It's only his second full game, in three or four days."
The former City youngster, an England under-20 international, arrived with a reputation of being a steady, defensive full-back – but as well as solid in the tackle, Ogbeta has been an exciting outlet on the front foot.
Shrews were in the transfer market for a left wing-back but the newly-arrived Ogbeta is making the role his own.
Skipper Ollie Norburn said: "He's only been in a week or so and he's really took to the lads, settled in quite easy and he's let him football do the talking.
"He looks very comfortable on the ball and he'll just get better game by game.
"I've told him I'll help him, communicate with him during the game and I think a number of others are doing that.
"I don't think Nathanael will have any sort of problem, you can see he's got quality on the ball and I'm sure he'll be alright."
Ogbeta made his Town and senior debut in the fine victory against Posh last weekend on a proud day for both the defender and his family, though they had to enjoy the occasion behind a screen in a different part of the country.
Wilbraham believes Shrewsbury's solid unit can play to the exciting youngster's strengths. He said: "When you've got such a strong unit around you, you can afford to be a little bit jinking, he carries us up the pitch and we've needed that, he's somebody that can do that.
"He's an outball for the lads when we're under pressure, we can give him the ball and at 19 he doesn't get fazed if someone's so close to him, he can jink past them.
"I told him to be positive and enjoy it as much as he can. He's just really calm.
"He's sat in there (after his debut) just really calm, not in an arrogant way, while everyone is thinking 'wow, unbelievable debut'.
"I was really pleased for him but just gutted his family couldn't be here to watch, I think they were all watching on the iFollow, they'll be really proud.
"You always remember your debut but I said to him at the end don't forget the other 10 lads with you, and that'll teach you to be a team player yourself and everyone gave him a round of applause, he got his shirt signed."
