Tom Flanagan spoke to the media ahead of tonight's Carabao Cup clash against Burnley.
The defender has fond memories of facing tonight's opponents, with Flanagan scoring for Sunderland when they knocked the Clarets out of the League Cup back in 2019.
Shrewsbury played Burnley in a pre-season friendly back in July with Vincent Kompany's side running out 3-1 winners that night.
And when speaking to the press, Flanagan spoke about that game, tonight's fixture and also discussed how important it is the players look after themselves when away from the club - with Town playing nine matches this month.
ON BURNLEY:
"As a squad we’re looking forward to it. It’s a bit of a distraction from the league but a good one.
"We want to see what we can do in the cup. I wasn’t here last season but the boys had a good cup run and managed to play at Liverpool.
"They all remember that so if we can get another day like that it will be great for the squad and the fans as well."
ON BURNLEY FRIENDLY:
"It’s a strange one having only played them a couple of weeks back.
"They have a style of play that they won’t move away from. They are trying to create an identity for the football club.
"They will do the same things no matter who the opponent is and they will either execute it better or worse depending on who they pick.
"But I think we have got enough to hurt them. We will concentrate on ourselves because at the end of the day they are coming to our home ground.
"It will be a good game, they will definitely want to win. I can’t imagine they will come here and make wholesale changes so it’s a good test for us. We are all looking forward to it."
ON CUP RUNS HELPING LEAGUE FORM:
"I think they go hand-in-hand.
"Some people talk about the cups as a distraction. But I think it all goes hand-in-hand - play well in the cup and you play well in the league.
"It’s important to approach all games the same. It’s still very early in the season. We are not concentrating on just the league or just the cup. It’s about developing how we want to play, what works for us and how to beat teams. It’s another learning day."
ON HECTIC SCHEDULE:
"Ultimately, we spend more time away from the club than at the club, so what you are doing while you’re away is very important.
"While we are here, it’s like being with your parents - they tell us what to do, what to eat, what to drink.
"But when you are at home that’s something you have got to do yourself and you and need to know you’ve got to do tomorrow or in two days time.
"You’ve got to do the right things to create the right outcome and that comes down to the professionalism of the individual.
"I can’t speak for other people but there is nobody here that I look at wonder what they are doing at home. Certainly, I have been sat in dressing rooms like that before."
ON BEING AN EXPERIENCED PLAYER:
"The young lads come to me a little bit but the example is kind of set in the dressing room with where we are at as a group.
"They see everyone doing what they need to be doing so they know they have to be the same. They see the level, they see the standard, they know what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable.
"One thing I will say about the young lads is that they are all fairly switched on. They are new-age footballers really, they know it all when it comes to recovery and things like that.
"Chris (Whalley) the fitness coach is really good and makes sure everyone is drinking what they need to be drinking.
"We get a text every evening with what we should eat depending on where we are in the game week. All those considerations are taken - it’s up to you to take them."
ON MONTGOMERY WATERS MEADOW ATMOSPHERE:
"The atmosphere has been really good - it’s a big difference from when I first came.
"I think there is a bit more expectation this season, rightly so.
"We are playing fairly good football, we are defending well - bar the weekend.
"Hopefully that will continue and Burnley will bring a lot of fans and make it a really good atmosphere."
