"Game of opinions" - Sam Stubbs praises fresh start under Gavin Cowan at Shrewsbury Town

Sam Stubbs has hailed the “clean slate” provided by Gavin Cowan following his omission from the Shrewsbury Town squad.

Stubbs was frozen out from mid-December until Cowan’s arrival. Former Town boss Michael Appleton said the decision was due to a disciplinary issue and suggested the January transfer window could offer Stubbs a chance to gain minutes elsewhere.

However, following Appleton’s departure, Stubbs returned to the starting XI for Cowan’s first game in charge and, after a minor injury setback, has featured in six of the last seven matches - scoring crucial winners against Chesterfield and Tranmere Rovers.

Asked about his time out of the side and his return under Cowan, Stubbs said: “It’s probably a bit of a strange one, but very easy when I wasn't in it.

“I didn't feel like I'd done anything wrong. I felt that I was true to myself, true to my words.

“Training hard, playing well, I thought I was in a decent little vein of form.

“But football is a game of opinions. It didn't work. There's no hard feelings.

“It wasn't a tough time. You want to play games of football, but at times you probably just need to realise how fortunate you are to do this as a job.

“If you play amazing, if you don't, it's probably something I've matured with age.

“It was what it was and I got on with it and kept doing the right things, because if and when something changes, a manager comes in.

“Since the gaffer has come in, (it’s been) brilliant. We had a chat, spoke about it and that was that. It was just a fresh slate, a fresh page.

“He's been brilliant. He talks about processes, he talks about morale, the way we've got to approach the game, mindset. I think it's showed in results.

“I know recently we've not had the greatest run of form, but it's expected at times. It's not easy for someone to come in and win five in a row and carry it on. He's been brilliant.

“He's been, on a personal level, really, really good with me.”