Midfielder Wants To Build On Match Fitness
"I think there are not many bigger fixtures we could’ve hoped for to start the season off with and obviously it will be a great test again to see where we are at come the start of the season," added Woods."We’re all just really looking forward to it now and we’re just going to take as much belief as we can out of these pre-season games that we’ve got left into that game and see what happens.
"It does really come thick and fast after that I think but I like it that way personally. It’s good because you don’t have time to think about your last game then your on to your next one. You’ve got to make sure you put your performances in on the pitch and see where it takes us.
"I think we’ve got the quality and the depth in the squad this year to be pushing up the league and why not aim for as high as possible. We’re really looking forward to the start of the season now and we’ll just keep pushing and seeing what happens."
But Woods still feels the momentum built from the success of last season should push Town to go from strength to strength.
And that focus is purely aimed towards the first game of the season when last year’s Championship side Milwall come to the Greenhous Meadow, backed by over 1,500 of their supporters.
"It is strange looking at things like that and seeing that apparently I’ve signed for this club and that club but that’s just the way it is,” admitted Woods.
"That’s football for you. Some people have to get excited about something and that’s the way it is.
"I’m just looking to keep playing football and keep improving as much as I can. If interest comes from away then that’s when I’ll take notice of it but until then I’m just focussed on playing football."
Woods’ success with Town has not gone unnoticed with rumours of transfer bids being made for one of Town’s longest current serving players, but Woods is adamant that he will not be distracted by off-the-pitch rumours.
"Like I said you can see the quality on the pitch in individuals and as a team and it’s looking really promising if I’m going to be honest,” said Woods.
"It’s exciting to see where we actually are at come Milwall at the start of the season.
"I think he’s (Micky Mellon) definitely got a tough decision this season with the amount of quality and the amount of numbers we’ve got in each position but that’s what he’s paid to do so he’s just got to pick what he thinks is the best eleven and hopefully I’m in it.
"We’ve got a lot of quality this year in a lot of areas of the pitch especially in midfield and it’s down to ourselves, and obviously down to me to make sure I’m in the gaffer’s thought process come the Milwall game and I’m looking to do everything I can to make sure I am."
Woods was an ever-present in the club’s promotion winning campaign last season but despite last season’s tally of 47 appearances, he feels it’s more than just minutes he is competing for in this Shrewsbury side – it’s his starting place.
"I remember being there last season and it’s a very big fixture for them,” admitted Woods.
"I think they see us as a lot bigger opponents and they’ll give it a right go – no doubt about it. It’s up to us to go there and make sure we pay them the respect they deserve and go there with the same mentality we did against Wolves and make sure we put on a good show.
"It’s always nice to play in front of bigger crowds with noise. We’re looking forward to it and I’m just looking forward to another game really.
"I had 75 against Cardiff then I missed the Blues game and got another 30 minutes against Wolves so I’m just looking to keep putting that time on the clock now and getting that match fitness back and match preparation and just play as much as I can.”
After Town’s triple header against Championship opponents, Woods is now looking to get more minutes under his belt at Tuesday’s opponents Kidderminster, who he insists will be all out to beat his side in front of what he hopes will be a decent away following.
"All you ever want to do is just play football," said Woods.
"That’s the only thing I want to do anyway. It was really nice to get back out there on Saturday and I’m just hoping for more to come now.
"Pre-season is going really well and I think you can see from our performances on the pitch that we’ve got a very good squad here this year and there’s nothing but hype and promise around the place.
"I didn’t see the Birmingham game but it was just a couple of mistakes that led to the goals and I think that’s been the same with Cardiff and Wolves as well where we probably could’ve done a little bit better in our own 18-yard-box. But that’s what pre-season games are for and that’s to get the rustiness out and the mistake out the way ready for the start of the season."
And following weeks of intensive training, the talented midfielder is hoping to get more minutes under his belt in a pre-season campaign he feels is going to plan.
The 21-year-old was absent from the midweek friendly defeat to Birmingham City through illness and despite only returning to training on Friday, Woods managed an impressive 30-minutes during Town’s 1-1 draw with Wolves and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after seeing his 25-yard screamer come back off the crossbar.
Midfielder Ryan Woods was delighted get back out onto the football pitch for Shrewsbury Town against Wolves last Saturday and is targeting more minutes in Tuesday night’s friendly away at Kidderminster Harriers.