SHREWSBURY Town new boy Ryan Doble admits he’s keen to kickstart his career after moving north from Southampton.
Manager Graham Turner wasted no time to bolster his striking options after losing last season’s top scorer James Collins to Swindon, with Wales under-21 international Doble completing his switch to the Greenhous Meadow.
Doble was attached to Premier League newcomers Saints for 10 years and made one first team appearance when he started the south coast club’s FA Cup third round victory at Coventry last season.
Doble will know what to expect of League One having had loan spells in the division with both Bourne-mouth and Bury last season while he previously spent time on loan at Stockport and Oxford in League Two.
“I’m at a stage now where I need to play games consecutively and I feel ready for it,” said Doble, an international team-mate of Town forward Tom Bradshaw. “I’m itching to get going.
“I like to play just off a striker and like to get on the ball a lot. Hopefully I can get a few important goals. I like to try and make things happen.
“I’ve been at Southampton since I was 11 so I was there 10 years and enjoyed my time but I’m happy to move on. I hope to push for a first team place and play regularly.”
Turner is now chasing more new signings and remains hot on the trail of several other quality players he believes can successfully replace the growing list of departing Town favourites.
Collins became the latest Town man to move on when he rejected what Shrewsbury described as a “very much improved” new contract to join Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon.
But Turner, having now made four summer additions, insists there are a host of good players still available and seeking new challenges.
“There’s a lot of work being done,” said Turner. “A lot of players are still out there thinking things over.
“I always say to them the hardest thing in life is to make the big decisions. Some delay it as long as possible before finally deciding.
“We feel we’re in with a shout with one or two players that will improve the team, will improve the squad, and we’re just waiting for answers from them.”
Town continue to be linked with a number of possible transfer targets, with reports in Gloucestershire suggesting they are pursuing Cheltenham midfielder Luke Summerfield, 24, who had a short trial at the Meadow last summer.
Meanwhile, Collins, the striker whose goals proved key in helping to rocket Shrewsbury to promotion, has been backed to keep on improving by his new manager Di Canio after agreeing a two-year deal at League Two champions Swindon.
Di Canio said: “He will improve. The fact I was a striker means I can help and that was good enough for him to join us. He is a talented player. He is a passionate guy and he wanted to join us.”
Collins scored 24 goals in 57 league and cup starts for Town after arriving from Aston Villa in January 2011, with his all round game improving considerably under the guidance of Turner and Town’s coaching staff.
He was top scorer last season, finding the net 16 times, including a memorable goal at Arsenal in the Carling Cup while he also headed the winner against Dagenham in the final home game of the season to seal promotion.
Town will be entitled to a compensation fee as he is aged under 24.
Writing in his Twitter account, Collins wished Town well for next season and said: “It was a tough choice on my future but I felt Swindon was the right move for me.”
Another of last season’s successful Town squad has also landed a new club with winger Lionel Ainsworth, released by Turner last month, joining his former Shrewsbury skipper Ian Sharps at League Two Rotherham United.