Dave Edwards: Shrewsbury Town is the perfect place for England and Gray to flourish

Dave Edwards believes Shrewsbury Town is the perfect place for academy graduates Isaac England and Will Gray to flourish.

The pair have both progressed through the club’s youth ranks into the first team and have earned praise from boss Gavin Cowan.

Gray broke into the Salop side towards the end of last season, while 18-year-old England made 16 League Two appearances as his progress was disrupted by injury during the closing months of the campaign.

Assistant manager Edwards, who came through the club’s academy before enjoying two successful spells with Town, believes the youngsters are in the ideal environment to fulfil their potential.

“Will’s performances were excellent and I just hope that him and Isaac both continue to develop at Shrewsbury,” Edwards said.

“I think it's a really good place for them to be, because of their age and the amount of first team football they played.

“A bit like me staying at Shrewsbury and getting games under your belt, I think that's so valuable.

“They've both got a massive future and it's crazy that two 17-year-olds, although Isaac’s not long turned 18, they’re both central midfielders, both live in the town, I don't think that's happened for such a long time.

“I think that literally the last time two Shrewsbury lads came through at the same time would have been me and Joe Hart and that's why I see so many similarities in them two to what I went through.”

Gray and England represent the club’s biggest recent academy success stories after establishing themselves in the first-team picture.

Young trio Jeval Thompson-McKenzie, Jay Snook and Reuben Falding will all hope to follow in their footsteps after signing third-year scholarship deals, while highly-rated prospect Hugo Aiston became the club’s youngest-ever player at the end of last season.

Having experienced that pathway himself, Edwards admits he takes great pride in helping the next generation.

He added: “I've enjoyed helping them when I can and I’m very proud when Will’s played games, made his first EFL start, when Isaac’s came on he was brilliant in the last two games of the season. I feel really good that I can be part of their journey as well.”