Gaffer looks forward to facing his former club
Shrewsbury Town Boss Paul Hurst is looking forward to getting back into Sky Bet League One action on Saturday.
It’s been three weeks since Town’s last league game and this weekend they take on sixth-placed side Rotherham United.
“It’s been a long time”, said Paul.
“I’m not one to just stand and stare at the table anyway, but I haven’t looked at that in a long time, so it will be good to get back into action, but we know it will be a tough one this weekend against Rotherham who are in the play-off spots themselves.
There a team that have come down from the Championship after a very difficult season for them, but they’ve turned things around and are looking to win promotion at the first time of asking. You want to get that atmosphere back of playing a game and Saturday will certainly be that.”
Paul made over 400 appearances for Rotherham, but he won’t let sentiment get in the way.
“It hasn’t got more on it because it’s only three points at stake”, Hurst said.
“In terms of interest from family and friends then of course there’s more on it, but, realistically, I want the team to go there and I want us to do ourselves justice, hopefully with a positive result, but we are up against a good side.
“I’ve caught up with a few people over the phone and I know that quite a few people have text and said they are going to the game. My son’s football manager is a Rotherham fan and he will be there. I’ve tried talking him into putting a Shrewsbury scarf on, but he’s not having any of that.
“There’s still a lot of familiar faces on staff, so I’m looking forward to that, but what I certainly understand is that I’m there to do a job, which is as manager of Shrewsbury Town and trying to get a result with the players.”
For six of his years at Rotherham Hurst played with Millers boss Paul Warne and he knows what to expect from the South Yorkshire side.
“Unless he throws a curveball in I don’t think I will be too far off with what I’m expecting and vice-versa”, Paul continued.
“I drove down to St. Georges Park yesterday with Matt Hamshaw who is the first team coach there. We didn’t exchange teams or anything like that, but I think we both said that we know roughly what each other will do.
“One thing I know 100% is that Warney will have the team fired-up irrespective of the opposition and his team will be fit, which is something that we pride ourselves on, so I’m expecting a very tough game, with a really good atmosphere and I’m looking forward to getting back into action and trying to maintain our position in the league table.”