Hitman Grant Holt is determined to continue the explosive start he’s enjoyed to his Shrewsbury Town career after finding the net three times in his first two games.
The club record signing, snapped up for £170,000 from Nottingham Forest, has wasted no time to show his higher division pedigree, grabbing a brace against Premier League West Brom on Tuesday after coming off the bench to score at Stafford last weekend.
The former Rochdale goal machine has become an instant hit with the fans, quickly showing signs of forming a potent partnership with fellow striking recruit Richard Walker.
“It’s a good start, I’m delighted with how it’s gone and I want to keep it going,” said Holt, who shrugs off talk of being under any extra pressure to deliver given the size of his price tag.
“I’m here to score goals and it wouldn’t have mattered if I’d come for 10 grand or 170 grand, it’s my job to score goals. These are only pre-season games and I know it’s a bit naive to say they don’t count, but they don’t really.
“As soon as the league season starts, that’s when I need to pay the chairman back for the money that he’s splashed out, and I’m looking forward to trying to do that.
“It’s just nice to score and it doesn’t matter if it’s against a Premier League side or Stafford Rangers last weekend.”
Holt relished playing at Town’s newly-named Prostar Stadium for the first time against the Baggies and believes the squad assembled by boss Paul Simpson can provide the fans with real entertainment this season.
“The pitch is fantastic and it suits the way the manager wants us to play as he wants us to keep the ball,” said Holt. “He doesn’t just want us to hoof it downfield down people’s throats.
“When the stadium’s full on match days, it will be bouncing, I think. It was a good performance against West Brom and the fans will have gone away very happy. There’s probably a buzz around the town the way we’ve played.”
Holt enjoyed lining up alongside fellow new boy Walker against Albion and knows plenty about his new strike partner, comparing him to former Rochdale team-mate Rickie Lambert who partnered Walker in the Bristol Rovers attack in the League Two play-off final against Town at Wembley.
“I know about Walks from playing against him and I know how he plays,” he said. “He’s pretty similar to Rickie in the way he holds the ball up well. I’m sure next week it will probably be him tapping two goals in.
“It’s good that the forwards we’ve got are different and as long as we do well I’ll be happy.”
Holt is looking forward to playing regular first team football after being in and out at Forest in their League One promotion side last season.
“I’ve come here to play football and if I can week in week out that’s great for me,” said the Cumbrian. “That’s what my aim is and obviously promotion would be brilliant. As long as we’re in the top three at the end of the season I would be happy with that.”
Holt and his team-mates have the chance to test themselves against Championship opposition tomorrow (Friday, 7.30pm) when Blackpool head to the Prostar Stadium in a late addition to the club’s pre-season programme.
Holt ended last season on loan to Blackpool while fellow new signings Walker and Mike Jackson, plus boss Simpson, are all Bloomfield Road old boys.
“I felt we could have been one game short from making it a really good preparation,” said Simpson. “The Blackpool game is a real bonus for us and it’s a good game for the fans again, a Championship side.”
There are reduced prices for the Blackpool game of £7 adults, £5 concessions and free admission for under-16s.
Town are also at home on Monday night when they take on Market Drayton in the Shropshire Senior Cup semi-final.
* See page 92, Shrewsbury Chronicle, July 24, 2008 for the return of our dedicated Town page, including an interview with out-of-favour striker Guy Madjo.