New Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Matt Gilks has quickly warmed to his task of helping the Prostar Stadium men climb the League Two table – insisting “I had no hesitation coming here.”
Gilks, signed on loan from Championship side Blackpool, said he was delighted to have played his first back-to-back league matches for 15 months, but is uncertain what the future holds at the moment as he keeps an open mind over which direction his career will take.
The ex-Rochdale shot stopper, who spent last season with Norwich City before a summer switch to Bloomfield Road, has taken no time to find his feet at the Prostar, helped by the fact that he already knew boss Paul Simpson and top scorer Grant Holt from his Spotland days.
And he wants to help Town keep moving in the right direction after checking in for a month initially as fellow on-loan keeper Luke Daniels is still ruled out through injury. “These have been my first two league games in 15 months and I’m feeling the effects of it if I’m being honest, two games in four days, as I’ve not been used to it so much,” said Gilks, who was rated highly in his Rochdale days.
“But it’s great to be back playing again in a winning team as good as Shrewsbury have at the moment.”
Gilks admits he was keen to get out on loan and play some first team football after a frustrating time with both Norwich and Blackpool.
“I’ve just been playing in the reserves at Blackpool and if the gaffer feels like putting me on the bench then he will,” he said. “There’s not much I can do at the moment. The keeper there (Paul Rachubka) is doing okay so I think it’s a case of biding my time.
“I could keep doing that without playing any games so this is an ideal opportunity to come and get some games, and if I end up going back and am called upon then I’ll be a lot fresher.”
Gilks, who enjoyed an outstanding Town debut in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Lincoln before lining up in Tuesday’s vital home win over Dagenham, added: “There were a few clubs interested but Shrewsbury were the first to ring and I had no hesitation in coming here.
“To play first team football no matter where is great. To play week in week out is what you want to do as a footballer.
“This is a great place to be. Shrewsbury have established themselves as a very strong League Two team and hopefully will be a good League One team next year.
“The club are moving forward, you can see that from the facilities they’ve got now, and the gaffer’s bringing players in who are capable of playing in League One.
“I knew what it was like down here from playing for Blackpool in pre-season and I know all about the manager.
Transfer
“He actually scored the best goal I’ve ever conceded, I’ll give him that, when he was playing for Blackpool against me for Rochdale in the FA Cup.”
Gilks and his new team- mates have to wait until a week on Saturday to play again when they host Rotherham in League Two.
Simpson, meanwhile, was planning to hold talks with chairman Roland Wycherley ahead of the closure of the current loan transfer window today (Thursday).
“I’m not sure whether we’ll be able to bring anybody in and I’m going to be speaking to the chairman,” said Simpson. “We have been a few players light.”
Winger Chris Humphrey faces up to six weeks out after suffering a double break of the jaw at Lincoln, while defender Mike Jackson missed Tuesday’s game after reacting badly to an injection in his spine.
But Shane Cansdell-Sherriff has been given the all-clear to build up his fitness after an ankle injury.
• See page 71 for more Town news as we turn the spotlight on the club’s youth side ahead of next week’s FA Youth Cup clash at Ipswich.