Gareth Ainsworth speaks glowingly about flourishing Shrewsbury Town midfielder
Alex Gilliead is a player Gareth Ainsworth has always admired from afar - and the head coach is enjoying watching him flourish under his guidance.
The midfielder has been one of Shrewsbury Town's most consistent players since Ainsworth was appointed as boss in November.
Since then, of the 16 League One games Ainsworth has taken charge of, Gilliead has featured in 15 of them - only missing the clash against Blackpool on New Year's Day through injury.
The boss says the 29-year-old was a player he and his assistant Richard Dobson thought about signing when they were in charge at Wycombe.
"He has been the player that we thought he could be," Ainsworth revealed. "We watched him about five years ago, myself and Dobbo.
"As a player who could potentially come and join our group down there, and that was a really fully functioning impressive group at that time.
"When we came in here, we thought Alex Gilliead, that's brilliant - we have always liked him.
"I think Gilly has got to be happy in himself. When he's happy in himself, he's playing his best stuff. So I think it is about coming in and just making him feel good."
Gilliead re-signed for Shrewsbury last summer, but the whole team struggled at the start of the League One campaign as they took just eight points from their opening 15 games.
That led to a change in head coach, and Ainsworth revealed he has noticed a change in the way the former Bradford man has been around the place since his arrival.
"He's always got a smile on his face," he continued. "He was quite quiet when we first came in - as everyone was.
"Now he's one of the main voices in the dressing room - it's brilliant to see. I think we've empowered him to be that Alex Gilliead that he enjoys being and that Geordie boy who's got plenty to say at times.
"He always makes a joke and lightens the mood with things, and he is crucial to have in the dressing room.
"I think that confidence is showing now on the pitch. You're seeing what made him very highly rated at one stage in his career - big clubs were after him. I think we're seeing why now.
"I think just the shackles maybe were on a few of these players when we came in. They were a bit scared to try things. We encourage a bit of risk. It is calculated and controlled, but we do."
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