Shrewsbury Town star benefiting from lessons in 'dark arts' of defending

Hoole explained how facing team-mates Chuks Aneke and John Marquis in training had helped him better prepare for playing in the heart of the backline.

He said: “They’ve been a big help.

“It’s something I am trying to improve on, to get better at that side of the game with the dark arts almost.

"You're grabbing, not letting someone have a free header or, like you said, give them a nudge and then go up for it. That's the stuff I'm trying to work on and that's what I've been trying to work on in training, the extras, those little bits.

"Coming up against even strikers like John and Chuks, training with them because obviously they're really good at it.

"They start coming in, pinning you and you can't move. So how do I manipulate them? It's just asking them questions, thinking what should I do here in that sense.”

Town have conceded just twice in four matches since Hoole moved into a back three alongside Sam Stubbs and Will Boyle and head into Sunday’s FA Cup first round tie at South Shields on an unbeaten four-match run.

"Everyone's been, I think, pulling in the same direction recently and I think it's started to show a little bit,” he said.

“(The physicality) is one thing I’ve had to learn on the job as you don’t get as much of that at right-back. 

"Normally you're up against wingers - and most don't really want to come in (to compete) as they are more running at you and they want the ball to feet.”