Eldwer vows to fight for Town place

Elder, along with fellow forward forward Kris Bright, was placed on the transfer list yesterday as manager Paul Simpson gave a swift response to Saturday's shock FA Cup exit to Staines.

It means Elder is available for a loan move - and a permanent one when the transfer window reopens in January - just three months into his three-year-deal.

The 22-year-old admitted the decision caught him by surprise, but insists he will not give up the ghost on forcing the way back into the plans of Simpson, who has pledged that both Elder and Bright will continue to be considered for first team duty.

"Yesterday came as a bit of a surprise but that's how football goes and you have to deal with it," said Elder.

"If I give up now, I might as well walk out and that is not the type of person I am.

"I'm a strong person and I think that if you don't believe it will happen then it won't.

"Football is a very lucky career to be involved in and every time I go out, whether it's for a reserve team game or a first team game, I like to play it as if it's in the World Cup.

"I don't think it's over yet (at Shrewsbury). I want to be a player who people know gives everything and I'm going to have to graft even harder now."

Yesterday's dramatic events also saw Simpson send midfielder Joss Labadie back to The Hawthorns - cutting short a loan spell which was due to run until at least January - because of a "disappointing attitude to training and matches" in the last month.

Some of Town's young professionals have also been made available for loans.

Simpson, meanwhile, is keen to look forward and draw a line in the sand on Town's FA Cup exit.

And he could have a welcome boost tomorrow with Terry Dunfield, Craig Disley and Omer Riza all in contention for a reserve team run-out at Macclesfield as they continue their return from injury.

By JAMES GARRISON