Gareth Ainsworth reveals his prediction for star Shrewsbury loanees future

Feeney joined Salop in the summer after completing a season-long loan deal from Premier League club Aston Villa.

His start to life at the club was hampered by a hamstring injury, and he did not make his debut until the 3-0 defeat at Wrexham at the start of September.

The 19-year-old then picked up another injury in Town's EFL Trophy defeat at Walsall in November - the last game before Ainsworth was appointed as boss.

After another brief spell on the sidelines, Feeney made his first appearance under his new head coach in the 2-2 draw against Wigan - which was the first game of the Christmas period.

And since then, he has grown in confidence, getting better and better by the game.

Ainsworth thinks he is getting plenty out of his spell in Shropshire at the moment.

"Josh has learned plenty playing in the centre of that five," he said. "I'm really proud of him.

"He is going to go on to have a fantastic career, no doubt, but we need him to play another half a season here with us, and hopefully get us out of the trouble we're in." 

In the last four league matches, Shrewsbury have started the same back six.

Jamal Blackman has been in goal. Mal Benning and Luca Hoole have been the wing-backs, while Josh Feeney has operated in the heart of the back three alongside Aaron Pierre on the left and Morgan Feeney on the right.

And his performance in the 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient on Saturday was arguably his best in a Town shirt.

"Josh is good," Ainsworth continued. "I want him to defend well and learn plenty. He was against a tough opponent with Charlie Kelman at Orient, he got the wrong side of him a few times, but Josh recovered really well, pace-wise, blocks-wise, fantastic.

"He's here to learn the game, he's here to develop, and I'm pleased that I'm developing him.

"He's getting plenty of game time. He's definitely learning, and with Aaron Pierre, who had to play through a bit of illness coming off, we ended up going to the four at the back, which, for me, was quite leaky early in the season. I was a little bit worried then, but, again, they held it together quite well."

Shrewsbury are back in League One action this weekend when they welcome Huddersfield to the Croud Meadow.

Salop will be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat they picked up at the John Smith's Stadium earlier in the campaign. 

The Terriers are in fine form themselves. They have not lost a League One game since the start of October when they were beaten away at Birmingham City. That has seen boss Michael Duff nominated for the League Manager of the Month award for December. 

Huddersfield are on a 15-match unbeaten run - they have won 10 of those. 

Duff finds himself up against Richie Wellens, Chris Davies and Phil Parkinson.