Boss Graham Turner has backed fit-again Lionel Ainsworth to play a key role in Shrewsbury Town’s promotion push as he ponders handing the flying winger a recall at Oxford United on Saturday.
Ainsworth made an eye-catching return from injury with an exciting cameo off the bench as he helped Town rescue a point from a 1-1 draw with Cheltenham last weekend.
The former Huddersfield and Watford wide man then stepped up his comeback by playing 60 minutes for the reserves in the goalless draw against Accrington on Tuesday.
Turner is delighted to have him available again and has described Ainsworth as “almost unplayable at this level” when he’s firing on all cylinders.
“He’s over his injury now and he’s physically fit, but his sharpness, his touch, hadn’t been there in training last week,” said Turner.
“I think he was getting a little bit frustrated so we had a brief chat on Friday and I thought when he came on against Cheltenham, he looked back to his old self, he looked back to his best.
“He’s an important player for us this season and if he produces what he can do then he’s almost unplayable at this level.
“He can be a match winner, a creator of chances, so we need him back right on song.”
Ainsworth was not the only player out to impress Turner in the reserve clash, with strikers Tom Bradshaw and Benji van den Broek bidding to force their way into his team for Saturday’s trip to the Kassam Stadium.
“One or two of them were playing for places in the side,” said Turner.
“We were obviously not over pleased with the way it went at the weekend so it was a chance for some of them to stake a claim.
“Tom and Benji both went on and livened things up against Cheltenham while Lionel put in four outstanding crosses, two of which should have produced goals for us with one falling for Mark Wright and the other to Tope Obadeyi.
“Any good connection with the ball and we would have finished up with all three points. But when you get the goal in the manner which we did and so late in the game, a draw wasn’t a bad return.”
Turner added every fit member of his squad had a chance of featuring in the next few weeks given the hectic run of matches over the festive period.
“We’ve got a heavy programme coming up over Christmas and New Year,” he stressed.
“I can’t see some, particularly the energetic positions like midfield, wide players, up front, being able to maintain the standard we’re looking for in four games in nine days so we’re going to need to be able to make changes.”
Town are likely to be without midfielder Craig Disley (hip) over the festive period while Turner doesn’t expect to be able to call on big defender Exodus Geohaghon again after a knee injury forced him to cut short his loan spell at the Meadow and return to Peterborough.
“Craig’s been ordered to rest for another three weeks and if it doesn’t settle down he could require surgery,” revealed Turner.
“He’s had more than his fair share of injuries over the last few seasons but he’s looked a consistent performer for us so far this season so it’s disappointing for him.”
But Turner had brighter news on Manchester City loanee Andrew Tutte as he expects the young midfielder to return to training today (Thursday) after back spasms cost him the chance to make his Town debut last weekend.
Saturday will be Town’s first trip to Oxford since January 2006 when goals from Kelvin Langmead, Ben Herd and Jamie Tolley wrapped up a 3-0 win.
Oxford were relegated four months later and spent four seasons in the Conference before the goals of James Constable, the striker allowed to leave Shrewsbury without receiving much of a chance under Paul Simpson, propelled them back to the Football League in May.
They are mid-table under Chris Wilder, with Constable having found the net nine times already this term.
“It’s about the way we go and play as we can be a match for anybody on our day,” added Turner.
“Whatever formation Oxford use – and they’ve changed it from time to time – we have to impose ourselves on the opposition.”
By Stuart Dunn