Luke Male earns Shrewsbury Town professional deal

Young attacking midfielder Luke Male has earned his shot at professional football — after earning a six-month deal with Shrewsbury Town.

Male has been offered terms after completing the two-year scholarship programme at Town.

But four of his colleagues — defensive trio Kieran Mills-Evans, Ashley Wells and Iain Edmunds as well as wide player Ben Evans — have been released.

Defender Connor Goldson, who was in the same age group, earned a professional contract last summer.

"Young Luke has had a few injuries but has a lot of promise so we have offered him a six-month contract," said boss Graham Turner,

"That gives him the chance to get over his injury, train through the summer, come into pre-season with us and then see how it all goes.

"He has plenty of attributes and has the makings of a professional footballer."

Turner admitted it had been tough to inform the quartet of released youngsters they would not be earning deals.

"It is never an easy time but you do really hope that in several years time that they bounce back elsewhere," said Turner.

Male, an 18-year-old from Dudley, first came to Shrewsbury at 13.

"I'm absolutely delighted for Luke," said Town's head of youth Dave Hughes.

"He picked up a foot injury playing for the reserves last October which kept him out for two or three months.,

"But he has shown great determination and I will work with him two or three times a week over the summer to make sure he is ready to go when the rest of the first team squad come back for pre-season training."