Shaun Whalley not slowing down at Shrewsbury Town

Whalley, Town’s longest-serving player, is out of contract at the end of the season ahead of the summer in which he turns 34.

The popular No.7 has previously said he would love to extend his Salop stay into a seventh season, but Wilbraham this week said boss Steve Cotterill is unlikely to hold talks over existing players’ futures until the end of the season.

Former Chester and Accrington flyer Whalley remains an influential part of the Town set-up. His brace in the excellent 3-0 win over Plymouth on Easter Monday (the contentious opener has been awarded to Whalley) takes the top scorer to eight goals this season, his joint-best in league action for Shrews. It was just his second start in six games.

“It’s good it’s been given as Shaun’s goal, that’s what you get as a striker when you run off and celebrate no matter what! Some you get and some you don’t,” smiled Wilbraham.

“It’s great for Shaun and he deserves it.

“He always works his socks off, Shauny, and when he gets into those goalscoring areas you always fancy him to score it.

“I’m sure he’ll have his sights on scoring more goals between now and the end of the season.”

Whalley, brought to the club by Micky Mellon in 2015, has traditionally played as a winger across his lengthy stint at Shrewsbury.

He has, however, been utilised as a second striker in Cotterill’s 3-5-2 system, which operates with wing-backs instead of wingers.

“Whenever he’s played under the gaffer he’s always been a striker or a second striker, he’s not been a winger so much because we play the wing-back role,” Wilbraham added.

“I’m sure he’s been out there a couple of times by default, with substitutions etcetera, but he’s the type of player who will play anywhere, to be honest, he just loves playing football.

“He can definitely play anywhere across that front line, no problem.”

Stand-in boss Wilbraham, who himself continued a playing career in League One until aged 40, added: “He’s not showing any signs of getting any older, the way he runs about, that’s a good thing for Shaun.

“I’m sure, when it comes to those decisions on contracts, the gaffer will sort those things out. I think Shaun’s done really well this season.

“He’s always played well whenever he’s played and when he’s been left out he’s brought the right attitude around the place which is what you want from people.”

Whalley is a high profile example of several Shrewsbury first-team players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.

Another is defender Ro-Shaun Williams, who has started more league games than anyone in Town colours this season and could play his 100th game for the club before the season ends. But his future remains up in the air.

“None really,” Williams admitted when asked about thoughts on his future.

“I just come in and try to do my best every day. That’s more up to the club and my agent to sort.

“I’m not really too into stuff like that, not really bothered, whatever happens will happen. It’s just how it goes.

“I come in every day, try to do my best, and hopefully continue to play games, that’s the main thing for me.”