Shrewsbury Town: Alex Gilliead reveals key to his impressive form

The 29-year-old has been in terrific form since Gareth Ainsworth arrived in Shropshire three months ago. He has started 14 of the 17 League One matches the head coach has taken charge of. 

The former Bradford man produced a wonderful assist when Town were down to 10 men against Mansfield at the start of this month. He put the ball on a plate for George Lloyd to score the winner in a 2-1 victory. 

Gilliead's all-round play has been very good, and he says that is partly due to the 'positive' way Ainsworth is around the Shrewsbury training ground every day. 

"I think it's just the way he plays and the way he wants me to play," he said when asked how the boss has gotten the best out of him. "It allows me to be probably the best version of myself.

"He's very positive in what he wants to do and how he wants us to play, but also how he wants us to be around the place.

"Obviously, I'm quite loud in the changing room. I'm quite energetic as well, and I think he brought a bit of that out of me as well.

"I'm happy, and I am settled. I think once you're happy and you're settled on and off the pitch, it is only a good thing."

The midfielder can play centrally or on the wing, and he is into his second spell in Shropshire. 

He was brought back to the club by Paul Hurst at the end of last summer, and he put pen to paper on a two-year deal at the Croud Meadow. 

His good performances in Salop's recent games have also seen him link up very well with team-mate and wing-back Luca Hoole on the right side. 

The duo combined very well at times on Tuesday night in the 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield, and he says that is down to the work they do in training. 

"When I started my footy career, I was a right-winger," he continued. "So it is more natural drifting out there. I've always played that combination with the full-back. He's a good player, Luca. He's obviously a young lad.

"Still, he's learning a lot with the situation we're in, and playing a lot of games.

"I get on very well with him off the pitch. We've formed that relationship, which obviously helps.

"Those types of things, like the little overlap we did. That is Dobbo (Richard Dobson), the assistant coach - he does a lot of work on that in training."