Manager Predicts A Good Game Of Football
“I hope he goes there and does really well against his old team and continues to play well for Shrewsbury," said Micky.“He’s done terrifically well for us and I’m really pleased with him.
“With all due respect to ourselves, I think we all agree a fully-firing Jean-Louis scoring goals wouldn’t be playing for Shrewsbury.
“The level of performance he can hit is as good as anything in the Championship, but the problem has been his level of scoring hasn’t kept him in teams and his level of performance and he’s found himself not playing at the levels that his top performance deserve.
“It’s something we work very hard on, to maintain him at those levels, but when he’s like that, he’s unplayable."
And Micky admits he has been pleased with the Frenchman's form this season.
Striker Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Blackpool, will go up against one of his former clubs in Rochdale on Tuesday night.
“It’s always difficult for goalkeepers because there’s only one position they can play in and they often have to be very patient," said Micky.
“We always knew for a long time that we had a really able guy there and it’s wrong to call him a number two because he’s got all the qualities you need to be a number one.
“But we make sure we empathise with his situation and keep talking to him all the time so he understands he needs to be ready when the opportunity comes.
“And we’ve all got to be very grateful he was because he fitted straight in seamlessly against his old club and produced a very assured performance - we just looked as if we just dropped another member into the back five."
And the Shrewsbury boss was pleased with Halstead's patience before his opportunity came for the game against Blackpool.
Micky has confirmed that Mark Halstead will remain in goal in place of the injured Jayson Leutwiler.
“They’re three points better off than us, they’re a well-established League One side who know the division very well and they play football the right way," said Micky.
“I know a number of their players and they get it down and pass it well, and I know Keith Hill so I know it’s going to be a good game of football."
And Micky predicts the hosts to get the ball down and play in the midweek clash.
Rochdale sit 7th in the table after nine games and have won three of their four home league games.
Town take on the Dale in the Sky Bet League 1 clash at Spotland (7.45pm kick-off) looking to keep their unbeaten away record this season going.
Manager Micky Mellon predicts 'a good game of football' as Shrewsbury Town travel to Rochdale on Tuesday night.