Manager Looking To Thrive On The Occasion
Manager Micky Mellon believes Shrewsbury Town will 'thrive' on the occasion at Bradford City on Saturday."(Wesolowski) and Knight-Percival are now at full tilt in training and moving closer and closer to being available for selection," said Micky.
"We’ve got a game next Wednesday against Wigan which will probably be the final part of their rehab and will start them being involved in selection.
"For both it’s probably a bit too early, but they’re both ahead of schedule.
"But they’re at a stage now where they just need a game."
Micky also confirmed that duo Nathaniel Knight-Percival and James Wesolowski are getting closer to a return to match action.
"It will be a tough test because they’re a very well-established League One team," said Micky.
"They will be expected to be up there at the shake-up at the end, so after playing Millwall last weekend, we’ll probably finish the game knowing where we’re at ourselves as a group, even though it’s very early.
"But it’s still an opportunity to test ourselves against one of the fancied teams.
"I think you’ve got to fancy them - they’ve been in the league for a while and they’re such a big club and they’ve got a good management team who I have a lot of respect for and have done very well there.
"I’m sure they would expect to be up there at the end so we know it will be a really good challenge for us.
"They’re always very well organised, very well motivated, well drilled and a talented team.
“We know it’s going to be a good challenge, but it’s one we’re really looking forward to and we thrive under that kind of environment so we’re really looking forward to it."
Micky is expecting a difficult challenge against Phil Parkinson's side, however, and tips them to be towards the top of the table at the end of the season.
Bradford have endured a difficult start to the season - losing 4-1 at Swindon Town in their opening fixture and going out of the Capital One Cup on penalties at York City on Tuesday night.
"I’m expecting us to enjoy the occasion and thrive on what will be a terrific atmosphere," said Micky.
"It’s always a tough place to go but it’s always a good place to go and play football, so we’ll embrace it and look forward to it and make sure by quarter to five we’ve taken part in it because it will a good occasion to be involved in.
"There’s a lot of experience right through the group so it won’t be rabbits in the headlights type stuff.
"We’ll prepare the team properly and speak about all the stuff that needs to be spoken about and one of those will be that there will be a big crowd there, and we’ll deal with that in the best way we can."
And Micky is confident his side will handle the atmosphere in Yorkshire.
It is expected to be one of the larger crowds which Shrewsbury will play in front of this season, with Valley Parade having a capacity of over 25,000.
Town travel to Valley Parade to take on the Bantams in Sky Bet League 1 at the weekend (3pm kick-off) looking to get their first point/s on the board. Click below to watch the full interview on Shrews Player HD