Defender Josh Emmanuel joins on-loan from Ipswich Town
Shrewsbury Town are delighted to announce the signing of Josh Emmanuel on a season-long loan deal from Ipswich Town.
The 21-year-old right-back spent last season on loan at Rotherham United, making 37 appearances, and faced Town in the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final.
The athletic defender came through the youth ranks at Portman Road and has made 24 appearances for his parent club.
This will be his third loan-spell away from Ipswich and Town Manager John Askey is looking forward to working with him.
“Josh has come in from Ipswich”, said Askey.
“He was out on-loan with Rotherham last year and obviously had a good season with them, and was part of their promotion winning team.
“It was the one position where we haven’t got cover and obviously Josh provides us with that, and he’s shown he can do it at this level.
“He’s very athletic, strong, a good defender, but he can also get forward as well. We’re just trying to cover all basis and I think with this signing we do that.”
Josh will now battle it out with James Bolton for the right-back slot and Askey hopes he can push Bolts all the way.
“There’s only really Omar from the centre-halves who can play right-back”, said John.
“It was important, I thought, with this being the last chance to bring anybody in, to get somebody in that would provide balance to the squad.
“We’re still trying to find the right combination that will provide us with a winning team and he comes in having been playing for Rotherham who won promotion last season, and hopefully he’s got that winning mentality that you need.”
Josh won’t be available for tomorrow’s game against Bristol Rovers as the deal was completed after 12pm. However, Ryan Sears will be available after he was recalled from his loan deal with AFC Telford United and John would have no qualms about throwing him in if necessary.
“James (Bolton) picked up a bit of an injury on Tuesday”, Askey said.
“We’re still hoping that he will be able to get through the game, but if he’s not right then Ryan Sears, who has been out on-loan at Telford and done really well there, is back as cover just in case.
“The idea of sending him out on-loan is so that they get games if they are needed, especially if they’ve done well when they’ve been out playing.
“It gives them a better opportunity to come in and to be able to show what they can do, and Ryan’s impressed, not only out on-loan at Telford, but when he’s trained with us as well.
“He’s fit, strong, athletic and can defend, and if he plays Saturday it gives him an opportunity to show what he can do at this level.”
Josh will take the number 2 shirt for the 2018/19 season. We will catch up with Josh after tomorrow's game to get his take on the loan move.