Rekeil Pyke is urged to earn his Shrewsbury Town chance

Pyke, 23, a summer acquisition from Huddersfield, has seen his first season at Montgomery Waters Meadow plagued by a thigh injury that ruled him out for the best part of three months.

The former Wrexham loan frontman was still injured when Cotterill was appointed in November and returned to training around the time Town's squad entered an enforced break due to a Covid-19 breakout.

Powerful striker Pyke, who joined on a lengthy three-year deal, has seen opportunities limited since Town's return to a quarter of an hour at Southampton in the FA Cup and just a handful of minutes in cameos against Peterborough and Crewe this week. As Town chased a leveller against the Railwaymen on Tuesday Pyke, the only striker on the bench, was the third and final change in the 89th minute.

"I know Rekeil from my time at Rochdale, I played with him, I've had a couple of chats with Rekeil," said Cotterill's assistant Wilbraham, who played alongside Pyke at Spotland, where the former Huddersfield striker spent two loans between January 2019 and January 2020.

"He had the long injury, which was a long injury and everyone needs to remember that, and then he came back in and we had the Covid break.

"He also had a bit of a sickness bug and was off for a few days last week, so he hasn't really got going yet.

"We're looking to get him going, but he knows what I've spoken to him as a friend and assistant manager, just to say - and this is nothing against his career, just what I know the gaffer expects – just to work as hard as the front two are playing at the moment are.

"That's what the gaffer wants his forwards to do and there's no reason why Rekeil can't do that, he's a good, powerful, fast, strong lad, he's a presence.

"He'll be looking to do that from now on, but he's not had a chance to get going. He knows what he needs to do."

The striker netted on his Town debut at Middlesbrough and made just three appearances before picking up his injury. It is believed there was interest in taking him on loan on transfer deadline day earlier this week.

Pyke, Daniel Udoh, Leon Clarke and deadline day signing Curtis Main are vying for the front role alongside Shaun Whalley.

Wilbraham added: "He's definitely a presence, he has a lot of good attributes, has pace and can get hold of the ball. He just has to work hard for the team.

"If you look at how the manager sets the team up everyone works hard for each other, that's not saying Rekeil doesn't, it's just what he's got to do to get into the manager's plans moving forward.

"That's what I've advised him to do now he's back in the fold in training."