'The high point was a 2-1 win at Burnley': How Middlesbrough's Carabao Cup opponents Shrewsbury Town are shaping up ahead of Riverside trip

Sam Ricketts’ men finished 15th in the third tier last season and haven’t played a competitive match for nearly six months after their 2019/20 campaign was cut short in March.

Since then, Shrewsbury have played a couple of friendlies and made some new signings over the summer, so will be looking forward to testing themselves against higher-league opposition.

We caught up with Shrewsbury Town reporter Lewis Cox from the Shropshire Star to get the inside track on Boro’s next opponents.

1. How has Shrewsbury’s pre-season gone and how are they shaping up ahead of the game?

Pre-season has gone well generally. The high point would be a 2-1 win at a strong Burnley side last weekend. There has been a lot of emphasis on finding a new attacking formula during the lockdown and summer, as well as adding more pace and athleticism to the squad, which they have done with five new signings, but they still need more quality in through the door.

Of the five new additions, I’d expect Scott High to start in midfield. Josh Daniels and Rekeil Pyke, a winger and forward respectively, will be involved in some capacity, while it may come a bit soon for Marlon Fossey, and new loan keeper Matija Sarkic is away on international duty.

Skipper Ollie Norburn (knee) is out and Josh Vela is suspended.

2. What formation are Shrewsbury likely to play?

They are set to play a new 4-3-3 this season as Ricketts looks for a more attacking style after previously using a variation of 3-5-2 or 5-3-2.

3. Who are the players Boro will need to keep an eye on at the Riverside?

Defensively Town are strong, generally, a centre-back duo Aaron Pierre and Ethan Ebanks-Landell are good third tier stoppers. It will be interesting to see how they cope. Shaun Whalley, a winger, is always a threat going forward and forward Jason Cummings is a good finisher.

4. What is the aim for Shrewsbury this season?

Continued progress. Last year after Covid they finished 15th, a second-highest league finish in 30 years, and anywhere above that will be viewed successfully.

5. How will the club and fans view a first-round Carabao Cup tie against Boro?

Ricketts says he feels like it is still pre-season, mainly because of the odd timing etc. But I don’t think Town or fans will lose much at exiting at this stage. It’s a tough draw, and progressing would mean an even more relentless schedule that I’m not sure their incomplete squad needs.

6. Finally what’s your score prediction for the match?

3-1 Boro.

Team news

New loan keeper Matija Sarkic is away on international duty.

Skipper Ollie Norburn (knee) is out and Josh Vela is suspended.

Predicted line-up

(4-3-3): Burgoyne; Love, Ebanks-Landell, Pierre, Golbourne; Goss, Edwards (c), High; Cummings, Udoh, Whalley.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.