Gavin Cowan hails 'incredible' Bayston Hill boy Will Gray for seizing chance on first Shrewsbury Town start

Boss Gavin Cowan praised “Bayston Hill boy” Will Gray for seizing his opportunity on his first start for Shrewsbury Town.

The 17-year-old made his first start for his hometown club against play-off chasing Oldham Athletic last weekend - his third appearance under Cowan in recent weeks.

The academy scholar impressed in midfield alongside Taylor Perry, who also came into the side, and Cowan highlighted the bright future for some of the club’s emerging talents.

“Incredible,” he said. “A Bayston Hill boy. He's a shy boy but he didn't show it on the training field.

“We identified him very early. We've got some really good players coming through that academy.

“It's really credit to our guys in the academy, Charlie Musselwhite and Sean McAllister. They're keeping me up to date with all of those lads.

“Will was just brilliant. His bravery, the detail that he's been really drilled on. It's hard for a young lad to take on so much detail and for us to keep him focused.

“He's one of those lads that will go out and do what you need to do. He could have got us a blatant penalty as well.

“But his overall play and his bravery and understanding our numbers and our patterns, which is strategic…he did that really well.”

Alongside Cowan, who also played for Salop during his playing days, both assistants Jamie Haynes and Dave Edwards came through the club’s youth system.

Cowan said the presence of figures like Edwards has been key in helping to nurture and develop youngsters such as Gray.

“We're really fortunate to have someone like Dave Edwards at the football club that can get around him when I don't have that time to do so,” Cowan added.

“Between the three of us, we really took it upon ourselves to mentor him and get him ready. Yes, it is a big call, but I'm a man of my word.

“Will should be really proud of himself. He's just turned 17 years old. It's a massive achievement.

“We've got some really good players coming through that academy that we want to really hone in on. But they have to earn it. They can't just be put in there, it's not just a given.

“Wil certainly earned it. Along with Isaac England and some of the others coming through, we're really optimistic about surrounding them with some really brilliant, experienced professionals for them to go out and do what Will did.”