Defender's thoughts ahead of Hatters test
- Knight-Percival nominated for December's Player of the Month award
- Assistant manager believes the defender is a role model for young players
- Thursday's game is live on Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm
Defender Nathaniel Knight-Percival believes Shrewsbury Town have dusted themselves down from their disappointing defeat to Burton Albion as they get set to take on promotion rivals Luton Town.
Micky Mellon’s side travel to Kenilworth Road on Thursday night (7.45pm kick-off) in front of the live Sky TV camera’s and are determined to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat, a match Knight-Percival feels they should have got something from.
“We talked about the Burton game and we feel we have played pretty well and been unlucky,” said the former Peterborough man.
“Maybe a draw would have been a fair result as their goal was a bit of a one off finish but it’s part of what happens in football and we’ll dust ourselves off we’ll go again Thursday and try and pick up three points.”
Town won the corresponding fixture back in August 2-0 thanks to a brace from Jordan Clark but Knight-Percival knows Luton are a formidable side now and one Town must be weary of.
He said: “I’ve played against Luton a few times with Wrexham and Histon and they always get a good support there so it’s going to be a tough game for us.
“We always expect a threat from Luton.
“You know they are going to be a good team but it’s all about us going there and concentrating on doing what we do best and trying to win the game.”
Evidence of what Town do best has been there for all to see this week as the summer signing has been one of four players nominated for League Two Player of the Month, something the defender was keen to share with his team-mates.
“Obviously it’s a lovely thing to be nominated but anyone of the back three could have got it because we’ve had a lot of clean sheets and conceded very few goals in the last month.
“We had the loss at the weekend but other than that we’ve been on a really good run form over the past month and we have to try and keep that going on Thursday.
“The defence all work hard for each other and there is a will of not wanting to concede goals and that mentality runs through the whole team really.
“It starts at the front with our strikers working hard for us and we in turn work hard for them to keep goals out.”
And it’s not just the football league that have been impressed with Knight-Percival’s form, with Assistant Manager Mike Jackson stating that Connor Goldson could look to him as a role model, something the 27-year-old was very humble about.
“I’ve not really thought about it like that but you try and help out as much as you can really,” he added.
“We have a few young defenders in the team and I guess I have played for a few more years than them so I try and help as much as I can on and off the pitch.
“But it’s always a nice compliment to have someone say that about you.”
Watch the full interview with Knight-Percival on Shrews PlayerHERE.