Harrogate v Shrewsbury preview: Huge clash in North Yorkshire

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for Michael Appleton and his men - they have taken five points from the eight games they have played.

The Sulphurites started the season well with two wins and two draws in their opening four League Two encounters.

Yet they too are in pretty bleak form, having lost four matches in a row.

Town started last campaign in a similar vein to this season, and they need to get their engines in gear and get some points on the board before they hit the 10-game mark - which is a good yard stick for where a team is at.

Chuks Aneke has been signed as a free agent and he will be close to being ready for the match against Harrogate, and the Town head coach is ‘excited’ by the impact he might have.

​"We're excited,” he said. “He is a good footballer and someone who I have a lot of respect for. He plays the game in a certain way.

“The impact he has as a substitute is as good as anyone I have ever worked with or seen, not just on the opposition but on his own players.

"They have an almost sense of, not relief, but when they see him getting stripped off, it almost gives them a confidence boost and everyone a lift. He makes an impact no matter who he is playing.

"We're delighted to bring him on board, but there has been a bit of work to do with him not having done much since the back end of May.

"We have work to do but he will be a massive, massive, key, important player for the club going forward."

With Town’s form and the points they have managed to collect over the early part of the season, Appleton thinks Aneke’s arrival could boost morale.

"I think it does give everyone a lift and a bit of belief in tight games,“ he continued. “You have players who can make a difference, and I believe we have that now.

"It is something we have now, and I mean this with respect, we didn't have three or four weeks ago.

"Now we are a different animal and a different problem for teams.

"We are nowhere near where I want us to be in reality, but we are eight games into the season.

"There is plenty of improvement, but we are bit by bit getting stronger."

There are formation questions for Appleton to answer in the game against the Sulphurites. Should it be a front three with two in the centre of the park, or a front two with three in the heart of midfield?  

They tried both against Salford last time out, and getting the best system could be key to turning around their results. 

Following the game at the weekend Town will welcome MK Dons to the Croud Meadow.