Returning Aiden O’Brien backed to be a hit for Shrewsbury Town

The former Millwall man is a proven League One performer and he scored five times in 17 appearances for Portsmouth before he penned a two-year deal at the Meadow last season.

And with him being back in training with the first team squad under new head coach Matt Taylor, his team-mate Winchester has backed him to have a good season in Shropshire.

He said: “I know how good of a player Aiden O’Brien is. The lads see it in training every day, he is a really good player and he has come back in pre-season in top nick.

“We were running on the first day and he looks in terrific shape. Hopefully, fingers crossed he can have a really good season as I believe he can be a big asset for this club.

“He has got the bit between his teeth now and he is coming back, it did not work out last season but that is in the past. With the new manager coming in hopefully there is a lot more to come from him.”

Winchester was the first signing of the Matt Taylor era – signing a two-year deal at the end of June.

So when the season gets under way he will be starting his second spell at the club after he originally joined on a season-long loan deal.

And Winchester said that O’Brien was a big part in why he decided to join the club in the first place – with the pair having a good relationship after the time they spent at Sunderland together.

He continued: “With the connection I had with him at Sunderland we became really close up there.

“He was a big part of me coming down here as well, him and Flanno they spoke to me about the club and they were really positive about the club and that was a big pulling point in me coming here.”