John Askey: Shrewsbury Town experience could improve Joel Coleman

Coleman signed on a season-long loan from Huddersfield Town this week, with the boss admitting that the deal had been in the pipeline for a while.

The 22-year-old follows in the footsteps of Dean Henderson in joining on a temporary basis, and Askey believes that he can grow just like the Manchester United stopper did last campaign.

"It’s been a bit of a slog to get him" Askey said.

"We’ve known for weeks that he’s going to come but finally he’s walked through the door, so we’ve got two very good ‘keepers now, which obviously I’m pleased about.

“He did well at Oldham to get his move to Huddersfield and when he’s played for Huddersfield he’s gone in and it hasn’t fazed him.

“He just needs games now and obviously we can give him that, but we are signing somebody that we think’s got good quality."

Shrewsbury have already brought in one goalkeeper in the shape of Steve Arnold, and Coleman will do battle with the former Barrow man for the number one spot.

And Askey believes that Coleman has the quality to help Salop compete this season, and could replicate the form shown by Henderson in the last campaign.

“If we are going to compete then you need to get the likes of Joel in. He’s at a good age still and hopefully we can improve him more.” he said.

“Any good side has a good goalkeeper and it’s one of the most vital positions on the pitch.

“If you have somebody that’s going to throw them in every week then you’re not going to win many, so hopefully he can come in and we can be a team that’s going to compete next season.

“It’s obviously a hard act to follow because Dean did fantastically well last season, but there’s no reason why Joel can’t replicate that, I just hope he doesn’t have too much to do.

“Hopefully, Huddersfield do well and he doesn’t have to be called back because that’s always the worry with goalkeepers, but if we can have him for the whole season then that’s what we need, especially with the goalkeeping position.”