Shrewsbury Town youngster earmarked for loan move
Jeval Thompson-McKenzie and Shrewsbury Town’s youngsters have caught Gavin Cowan’s eye during pre-season.
Shrewsbury Town youngster Jeval Thompson-McKenzie is being “earmarked” for a loan move as the new season approaches.
Thompson-McKenzie has been a regular fixture throughout Salop’s pre-season campaign and featured in the closing stages of Saturday’s friendly against West Brom after playing more than 75 minutes against Everton Under-21s last week.
The teenager, one of three academy players to sign third-year scholarship deals this summer, has caught the eye with a series of impressive displays in the forward areas.
Alongside Reuben Falding and Jay Snook - who recently suffered a hamstring injury - Thompson-McKenzie has made a positive impression on boss Gavin Cowan.
Asked whether the youngster had given him food for thought ahead of the new season, Cowan said: “They all have.
“We have a young squad as it stands at the moment. Those third-year scholars coming through have done great.
“They’ve been on our pre-season tour. Jay Snook missed out against West Brom, Reuben didn’t get on, unfortunately. But, yes, he (Thompson-McKenzie) came on and just had a bit of an impact.
“He’s one that we’re earmarking for a loan. But at the moment he’s having a really positive effect in and around the training ground.
“As you saw, he’s got a skill set that we need to develop and enhance. Hopefully he can achieve a good career.”
Thompson-McKenzie played a key role in Shrewsbury’s under-18 side that completed a historic league double last season, winning both the EFL Youth Alliance North West and North divisions.
Before that, he helped the club’s under-17s lift the PDL Cup and was involved in first-team pre-season preparations ahead of last season.
The teenager also spent the closing weeks of the previous campaign on loan at Stourbridge in the Southern Central Premier, gaining valuable experience in senior football.
Fellow youngsters Falding and Snook were also key members of the under-18s’ title-winning side and both spent time on loan together at Kidsgrove Athletic last season.
They have joined academy graduates Will Gray and Isaac England in playing prominent roles during Town’s pre-season preparations, with Shrewsbury’s academy continuing to produce a steady stream of homegrown talent for the first team.
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