Midfielder looks forward to facing The Posh
Shrewsbury Town attacking midfielder Shaun Whalley admitted that he is excited about the prospect of getting back into the side for the visit of Peterborough United.Whalley hasn’t started a game since the 2-1 victory over Huddersfield Town back in August, but he has impressed as a substitute in recent games against AFC Wimbledon and Bury.
The 29 year old expects a difficult test from The Posh, but is hoping that Town can get a home win.
“I think they’ve got a lot of talented players,” Shaun told the Press.
“Marcus Maddison, Paul Taylor, Tom Nicholls from Exeter who is a good striker, so they are very capable on the day of winning, but we just need to match them.
“We need to match them for work rate and then hopefully we can get a few chances, and maybe nick it.”
“It’s important to win every game, but we could do with picking up a good win at home and hopefully that will be tomorrow.
“The fans are brilliant, you don’t get them all groaning every time someone makes a misplaced pass or something like that.
“I’ve had it at other clubs where it’s just a negative atmosphere and I don’t think the crowd are like that here, but for some reason or another we just haven’t got enough home wins.
“But, hopefully we start tomorrow and we get that important win,” added Shaun.
Shaun started the season in the side, before a calf injury ruled him out for nearly a month, but the winger is hoping he is now fully fit.
“I thought I had a good preseason,” said Shaun.
“I felt really strong in preseason and I felt really good in those first two games as well, but it was just in that Huddersfield game where I took a whack on the knee and I think I pulled my calf, so in the end I decided I would have to come off for the team.
“I carried on training and then I came on at Charlton away. Even when I was warming up I was struggling with it, but I came on and I thought I did okay, but I wasn’t playing to where I can be playing, so I had to tell Skitty, but we got it sorted in the end.”
Whalley impressed as a substitute against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday and his is hoping to hold down a regular spot in the side.
“I thought for the first time this season I played to my true potential and my true ability, I thought I did really well,” said Whalley.
“I don’t know why, but on Saturday I felt really relaxed when I came on. I think I need to get back to being a bit more relaxed.
“I get a little bit uptight sometimes about trying to do so well that it can make me make mistakes sometimes in games. Whereas, if I play more relaxed I just do what comes to me and I do better. I’ve just got to keep improving on Saturday’s performances.
“I do think a lot about football at all times really, but sometimes it’s important to relax and not be all tight about your game.
“It’s about getting a balancing act between both of them thing because you don’t want to get so relaxed that you are just drifting around the pitch and things, but it’s about getting that right balance.”
Whalley came on in a number 10 role on Saturday and Shaun himself believes that could be his best position.
“I used to play on the left a lot and then I became an out-an-out right winger, but since I’ve come here, the Gaffer and Jacko have taught me how to play in that number 10 position,” continued Shaun.
“At the minute I feel like that could be my best position, because defenders don’t know whether to come in and mark you, whereas if you are stood out wide you are going to have the left back marking you all game.
“But, if you are on the inside you can maybe pop up on the left sometimes, you’re just looking to get on the ball and turn, and then you can drive at defences.
“Also, when I’m through the middle I feel as if I can go both ways, I can go right or left, whereas if I’m wide, I am just looking to get past the full back and get a cross in or whatever, so I think I’m more of a goal threat from the number 10 position.”