Steven Leslie has pledged to continue his renaissance and push for a new Shrewsbury Town contract after forcing his way back into boss Paul Simpson’s plans.
Local lad Leslie, 21, had been restricted to a bit part role this season until being handed the chance to impress in Town’s last two matches against Bury and Bradford. And, having caught the eye in a new central midfield role, Leslie hopes to keep his place in the side for Saturday’s derby clash at Port Vale as he aims to play a leading role in the club’s League Two promotion push.
“I’m glad to be back involved and I’ve waited a long time for it,” said Leslie, a former pupil at Shrewsbury’s Sundorne School. “I wasn’t doing very well at the start of the season but hopefully now I can take my chance.
“I’ve had to get my head down, get stuck in and listen to what the manager had to say, but I’ve done that and come back stronger for it.
“After being involved at the back end of last season I thought this season could be a good one for me. It didn’t start too well but now I’m looking forward to trying to stay in the team.”
Although born in Glasgow, Leslie moved to Shrewsbury with his family at the age of 10 and looks on himself as a local lad which, he says, has made his breakthrough to league football with Town all the more special.
Now he admits he would love to earn a new contract at the Prostar as he’s one of a host of players whose present deals expire at the end of the season.
“It’s nice to be a local boy,” he said. “The fans here get behind you so much and give you lots of encouragement. It really makes you want to do well. My family come to most games and it’s nice for them to be able to see me out on the pitch playing football.
“I’ve been here since I was 10 and have come up through the ranks. I’ve seen many players come and go but it’s nice to be the only one still here from Shrewsbury.
“I’m out of contract in the summer and it would be nice to get a new deal but it’s up to the manager so we’ll have to wait and see, but fingers crossed.”
Leslie’s previous appearances for the first team had come as a left winger but he has been delighted to get the chance to show what he can do in a central midfield role.
“When I was in the youth team here I played centre midfield for a season and I really enjoyed it,” said Leslie, who relished the big match atmosphere of Town’s last game at Bradford’s Valley Parade in front of nearly 13,000 fans.
“I’ve also been playing there for the reserves this season and I’ve really enjoyed it as you get a lot more of the ball so hopefully I can show what I can do in the position.”
Leslie now wants to start to weigh in with a few goals and add to his solitary strike this season, against Dagenham in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in November.
“That’s what all midfielders say they want to do, get forward and score goals,” he added. “Just look at Steven Gerrard. He’s scoring goals for fun from midfield so hopefully I can base myself on him.”
Boss Simpson, impressed with Leslie’s displays since recalling him, said: “He’s a good footballer. He’s a young lad still learning the game and he’ll get better.
“Although he’s a fit lad, I didn’t think his performances were good enough over pre-season to get in but he’s kept working away.
“He got moved inside to play central midfield for the reserves and did really well. He’s a good athlete and he’s got a good passing range, but he needs to be braver with the ball, more positive, and I thought he did well second half at Bradford.”
Meanwhile, boss Simpson said there had been no contact from Millwall about Town skipper Ben Davies despite reports in London claiming Lions manager Kenny Jackett was interested in the nine-goal midfielder. “Nobody at all has been in touch about him,” said Simpson.
• See page 71 of Shrewsbury Chronicle, January 15, 2009 for more Town news.