‘You want to play for him’ - Tom Sang lifts lid on Gavin Cowan impact

Tom Sang praised the confidence Gavin Cowan has instilled in him and the Shrewsbury Town squad’s commitment to the manager’s cause.

Sang earned plenty of praise from Cowan during the final months of the season as the 26-year-old returned from injury to feature regularly towards the end of the campaign.

He is among those under contract for next season after signing a two-year deal last summer.

Speaking in the final weeks of the season, Sang opened up on how much he has enjoyed working under Cowan so far, predominantly playing on the right-hand side of the pitch.

Asked whether he felt the Salop chief had helped him develop personally, he said: “Yes, definitely. I think one of the main things for me is playing in one position and staying there.

“Really feeling that back from the gaffer, I think it's important for a player to get that confidence, and then it's just how it's been in general.

“You really want to buy into it, really want to work hard and play for him and the team. I think it's all come together and helped a lot.”

Sang, who hails from Liverpool, was hampered by a hamstring injury towards the end of the campaign. He missed three consecutive games after being forced off at Newport County in late March.

Following Cowan’s arrival, Sang played his part in some key victories on Town’s route to safety, scoring in their comeback win at Salford City and providing two assists in their dramatic victory at Chesterfield.

Sang arrived in Shropshire from Port Vale last summer, where he had helped them win promotion to League One following relegation. He admitted he had hoped to help Town achieve the same this season.

But he is encouraged by the direction Shrewsbury are heading in after the second half of the campaign under Cowan.

“Signing here where the club had just dropped down from League Two, I thought it could be the same as Port Vale and bounce straight back up.

“But straight away you realised we’re in for a tough season. But to be where we are now, it feels completely different.

“So it's really positive and I'm looking forward to next year.”