Elliott Bennett previews Town's opening Sky Bet League One fixture with Burton Albion.
Shrewsbury Town welcome Burton Albion to Montgomery Waters Meadow this Saturday for the opening Sky Bet League One fixture of the 2021/22 season.
After a perfect record in pre-season, Steve Cotterill's men will be looking to kick off the season with a win over Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Brewers.
Town newcomer Elliott Bennett is thrilled to have supporters back and is looking forward to playing in a packed Montgomery Waters Meadow if selected.
Having the fans back:
"Yeah, we're buzzing," said Elliott. "I know it's cliche, but football is nothing without the fans. These last 18 months have shown that they are the life and soul of the game. I can't wait to see the stadium full of people.
"It's going to feel like a normal football match. It hasn't felt like the football that I know and love in the last however months. Just walking out at the Bucks Head against Telford in pre-season was incredible. Our supporters pushed us and urged us on. I don't think fans can ever be underappreciated ever again after this spell.
"I hope I get selected because I'm really looking forward to pulling on the Shrewsbury Town shirt. I will always leave everything out on the pitch and I'm really looking forward to doing that for Shrewsbury this season when selected."
On the test of Burton:
"Pre-season was up there with one of the hardest I've ever done. The Gaffer wants his team to be fit and we've put the work in. We are all really starting to feel the benefits of it and hopefully we can take that into the season. The fans will see how fit we are and how hard we've been working.
"For the first game, you have to concentrate on what you do well. We need to throw our strengths at the opposition. Everyone is kind of feeling each other's game out in the first six or seven games and you can't predict.
"Quite often, teams make a lot of changes and make adjustments to how they play. You have to concentrate on your own strengths and how you can use them in the game. Excitement is really building now and I'm looking forward to it."
