Five things to look out for as Shrewsbury Town face Aston Villa in final pre-season test

Shrewsbury Town host a young Aston Villa side in their final pre-season fixture this weekend.

Salop open their competitive campaign against Salford City in the Carabao Cup a week later, meaning Saturday’s encounter is likely to provide the clearest indication yet of Gavin Cowan’s plans.

Here are five things to watch out for.

Team selection

With the new season just around the corner, Cowan’s starting XI could offer a strong indication of the side set to face Salford.

Earlier in pre-season, Town split game time evenly between two teams. More recently, however, substitutions have mirrored those seen during competitive matches, suggesting Saturday’s line-up will be much closer to Cowan’s strongest XI.

Goalkeeper battle

The battle for the number one place remains a big talking point.

Sam Proctor arrived on a season-long loan from Aston Villa to compete with Will Brook, who Cowan previously said was the number one. But he made it clear the pair will push each other.

Brook played the full 90 minutes against Hereford, so it will be interesting to see whether he keeps his place against Villa or whether Proctor is given the chance to stake his claim before the season begins.

Selection decisions

There are still questions to answer elsewhere in the side.

Kevin Berkoe impressed after replacing Byron Pendleton against Hereford, while the midfield remains highly competitive, with Isaac England, Jay Turner-Cooke, Tom Sang, Will Gray and, fitness permitting, Jack Price all vying for places.

In attack, Joe Gbode will be hoping to secure a starting line-up spot. He began the Hereford game on the bench, with Josh Davison and George Lloyd also competing for places.

Injury updates

There will also be plenty of interest in the team news.

Josh Ruffels missed the draw with Hereford through illness after Cowan admitted he was being cautious with the defender.

Luca Hoole has returned to training following an ankle injury but is yet to feature since Town’s opening pre-season fixture, while Jack Price continues to recover from a heel problem. Young forward Jay Snook is also working his way back after a hamstring issue.

Above all, Cowan will be hoping to come through the afternoon without any fresh injury concerns.

Building momentum

Pre-season results matter far less than performances, a point Cowan has repeatedly emphasised.

Even so, Town will want to head into the competitive campaign with confidence after a strong display. With preparations now entering their final stage, the Town chief will undoubtedly be looking for a performance that reflects the standards he expects once the season gets under way.