The Shrewsbury Town duo who have become “like brothers”

The pair are part of a self-described “car school”, travelling into Shrewsbury together. Both joined the club last summer, signing two-year deals at the Croud Meadow.

Stubbs revealed how they first became acquainted and how their bond has grown at Town - even recalling a moment when he almost got the better of Sang on the pitch.

He said: “I played with Sangy’s brother at Wigan. So, I knew of Sangy and then played against him.

“He marked me last year, actually. He was at Port Vale and he marked me from a corner.

“I remember saying something like ‘they've got the wrong marker’, and I nearly scored, to be fair. I got away from him - we always speak about it.

“But he's a good lad. He's a lovely lad, a good player, a good pro, and really skinny.

“He's the second best-looking person in the car school as well. But he's a good guy.”

Sang admitted it was tough to mark the towering defender last season, laughing: “That's not my job to be trying to wrestle a big man like that. I just let him do what he's doing.”

The pair share similar backgrounds, both hailing from Liverpool and being sons of former professional footballers.

Sang’s father, Neil, began his career at Everton before going on to play for Torquay United.

Stubbs’ father, Alan, enjoyed spells with Bolton Wanderers, Celtic and Everton - facing Shrewsbury in the FA Cup in January 2003 during his time with the Toffees.

Sang started out in Bolton Wanderers’ youth setup before moving to Manchester United, where he was between 2015 and 2018, playing under current Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.

The midfielder recently spent time sidelined with a hamstring injury but returned to action at Crawley Town, featuring in the second half.

Sang said: “When you're in the same car school you become like brothers very quickly.

“Straight away from day one, we were like best mates out there.”

The 26-year-old has earned high praise from boss Gavin Cowan since he took charge.

Stubbs, meanwhile, returned to the side following Cowan’s appointment in late January, having previously been frozen out under the former management.

He revealed how Sang supported him during that difficult spell, when he missed seven league games.

Asked whether it helps having a close team-mate like Sang, Stubbs added: “Yes, and I think as well, jokes aside, we help each other, being from the same city, probably seeing the world in a similar way.

“Me, having me troubles with being out of the team, I have got someone to speak to, someone I could trust.

“Anyone in any industry, you pick who you trust wisely. It's no different for football. So, he's been good. He's a good lad, Sangy.”

Stubbs joined Wigan Athletic in 2013 after progressing through Everton’s youth ranks. He signed for Town after leaving Bradford City, which included a loan spell at Cheltenham Town.

The defender recently netted winning goals against Chesterfield and Tranmere Rovers as Town secured safety.

While the Liverpool pair are close, Sang said the whole squad at Salop is tight-knit.

“You don't want in a team little cliques and stuff like that, but this changing room is not like that at all,” he said.

“But everyone's always got the ones they're closest to, to be fair.”