Shrewsbury Town midfielder Josh Vela backs himself to add goals to his game
Shrewsbury player of the season Josh Vela feels an advanced role will help him hit the goal trail next season.
Vela was Town's standout candidate for the player and fan awards a couple of weeks ago after an impressive campaign.
But the central midfielder managed just three goals in 49 games in all competitions, most of which were in the middle of the pitch alongside captain Ollie Norburn.
In a number of games towards the end of the season, however, Vela occupied a more advanced midfield role in support of the front two, where his high-energy press was effective and the midfielder worked a number of good chances.
"I don't mind it. I'm obviously a decent presser, so I can press," said Vela of playing an attacking midfield role.
"I'm obviously not going to bring the little flicks and tricks and stuff like that, but if I get into goalscoring positions and get the chances then I will score.
"I scored at Bolton when I played as a '10', I got double-figures, so hopefully I can start adding more goals. If I play in that position I will try to get more goals.
"I played in the '10' for most of the season and that's where I got my goals from."
The midfielder previously scored 10 goals as an advanced midfield player in a League One promotion-winning season with former club Bolton.
Vela, 27, netted in front of returning boss Steve Cotterill in the 3-2 Montgomery Waters Meadow defeat to Oxford on May 1 – his first home goal for the club.
His previous two strikes had come on the road at Plymouth, right at the start of the season, and in a crucial win at drop-zone rivals Rochdale in March.
The midfielder has another season left on the two-and-a-half year deal he penned when signed by Sam Ricketts following an unhappy brief spell at Hibernian.
And Vela is likely to be a key part of Cotterill's plans to lift Town higher up the League One reckoning next season.
