Who were Shrewsbury Town's standout stars? We crunched every rating to find out

It was a season of two halves for Shrewsbury Town - one that ended with renewed optimism.

Salop were revived under Gavin Cowan from late January onwards, embarking on a five-game unbeaten run and securing League Two safety with three games to spare.

Despite the upturn, there were far more defeats than victories across the campaign, and Town will be targeting a stronger return next season.

At the Shropshire Star, we award player ratings out of 10 for every game. Using those scores, we have calculated Shrewsbury's average ratings across the 2025/26 campaign.

Below, in descending order, are the 10 Shrewsbury players who featured most regularly and achieved the highest average ratings across the season. Players had to appear in at least around half of the club's 53 matches in all competitions to qualify.

Ismeal Kabia - 6.5

It may come as both a surprise and no surprise to see Kabia top the ratings.

The Arsenal loanee was electric at times down the right flank, regularly testing defenders and creating chances for Town.

There were also occasions when the 20-year-old's inexperience showed, with stronger defenders able to shrug him off the ball and halt promising attacks.

The youngster looked particularly effective in advanced areas, having primarily played as a winger rather than a wing-back throughout his development at Arsenal.

Sam Stubbs - 6.4

Two moments immediately stand out when reflecting on Stubbs' season, both arriving within a matter of weeks.

His winning goals against Chesterfield and Tranmere Rovers earned deservedly high ratings and proved pivotal in Salop's successful fight for survival.

Frozen out under the previous regime, Stubbs was handed a clean slate by Cowan and responded impressively, becoming a key figure in a defence that helped grind out crucial victories.

Tom Sang - 6.3

Sang's quality on the ball was evident throughout the campaign, with his set-piece deliveries providing several important assists.

Dead-ball situations proved a valuable weapon for Shrewsbury and played a significant role in preserving their Football League status.

While Sang experienced some inconsistent spells, he generally impressed and appeared to grow in confidence during the latter stages of the season under Cowan.

There remains a feeling that supporters have yet to see the very best of him in a Shrewsbury shirt.

Will Boyle - 6.2

Boyle was one of Town's most consistent performers throughout the season, missing just three league matches.

The centre-back played a major role in Shrewsbury's improved defensive record under Cowan and captained the side effectively during John Marquis' absence.

It was no surprise to see Boyle rank highly for aerial duels won, underlining his influence at both ends of the pitch as he also chipped in with several important goals. Supporters will hope the defender can continue his form and consistency into next season.

Luca Hoole - 6.1

It would be fair to argue Hoole's rating could have been even higher.

The occasional mistake may have impacted his scores, but while Town endured another difficult campaign, Hoole remained one of their standout performers.

That was reflected by the number of awards he collected at the club's end-of-season presentation evening.

A consistent presence throughout the campaign, he adapted well to operating on the right side of a back three and flourished under Cowan, despite injury setbacks. He was often there to disrupt attacks from the opposition and clear lines.

Taylor Perry - 6.1

It came as little surprise when Kevin Berkoe revealed Perry's nickname was inspired by the spectacular goals - ‘bangers’ as he put it - he scored this season.

His eye-catching strikes undoubtedly boosted his ratings.

The midfielder featured heavily during his third season in Shropshire but was unable to consistently provide the creativity and goals he would have hoped for.

That was not through a lack of effort. Perry regularly tested goalkeepers from long range and often found himself operating in deeper areas as Town absorbed pressure.

His superb strike against Notts County was among the highlights of his campaign.

George Lloyd - 6.0

Although Lloyd managed only four goals in 43 league appearances, his work rate and commitment could never be questioned.

The striker embodied the attitude and determination Cowan demands, helping make him a popular figure among supporters.

His relentless pressing, willingness to run channels and tendency to drift into wide areas often benefited the team, even if it came at the expense of his own goalscoring opportunities.

However, Cowan has challenged Lloyd to become more selfish and ruthless in front of goal next season.

Sam Clucas - 6.0

It was perhaps no surprise to see Clucas placed on the transfer list at the end of the campaign.

The 35-year-old still demonstrated the quality and experience that made him a Premier League player, but there were signs that the game was beginning to catch up with him physically.

Nevertheless, Clucas remained Shrewsbury's leading creator, finishing the season with five assists - more than any other player in the squad.

All five came between late September and mid-December during a period when he featured heavily.

John Marquis - 5.8

Marquis never quite reached the levels supporters had hoped for following his arrival.

Shrewsbury finished the campaign as League Two's second-lowest scorers and the captain's struggles in front of goal ultimately contributed to his departure at the end of the season.

Cowan frequently praised Marquis' leadership and influence off the pitch, but goals remained in short supply.

His miss from close range at Gillingham on the final day summed up a frustrating campaign.

Tom Anderson - 5.8

Anderson is another player who has been made available for transfer following the season's conclusion.

He featured just eight times under Cowan, having played far more regularly during Michael Appleton's tenure.

His equaliser away at local rivals Walsall was among his highlights of the season.

Having arrived from Doncaster Rovers with a strong reputation, there was considerable excitement among supporters, but Anderson never quite developed into the commanding defensive presence many had anticipated.

Honourable mentions

The goalkeeping position was a major talking point throughout the season, with Elyh Harrison, Will Brook and Matt Cox all featuring.

Cox impressed after joining on loan, starting 18 consecutive matches and posting an excellent average rating of 7.2.

Brook also performed well when called upon, recording an average score of 6.2.

Several January arrivals also made a significant impact. Iwan Morgan averaged 6.9, while Kevin Berkoe finished on 6.8 and gave supporters plenty of reasons to be excited about what he could produce over a full season.

Josh Ruffels arrived late in the campaign but impressed in defence, averaging 6.5, while loanee Tommy McDermott finished on 6.2, despite many of his appearances coming from the bench.

Finally, Anthony Scully endured an injury-disrupted season and struggled to make a sustained impact in attacking areas, finishing with an average rating of exactly 6.0.