Shrewsbury Town keeper Chris Neal has double dream
In-form goalkeeper Chris Neal is hoping his exploits in his breakthrough season will be enough to earn him a new contract with promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town.
In-form goalkeeper Chris Neal is hoping his exploits in his breakthrough season will be enough to earn him a new contract with promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town.
Neal, who has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in his two previous seasons at the Greenhous Meadow, has reeled off 36 consecutive appearances since replacing Ben Smith in October.
Man of the match outings in the last two games against Accrington and Port Vale have coincided with a consistent run of form which has seen him concede just five goals in the last 10 outings.
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Neal recognises the 2011-12 campaign has been vital to his progression and is hoping he has done enough to earn a fresh deal to the one which runs out in the summer.
"It (the breakthrough) has been a long time coming and in the past I've either not been selected or had injury," said Neal.
"This year looks good and I'm quite proud of the way it has gone for me this season and I've been largely happy with my form.
"I would love it if I could sign a deal keeping me here and hopefully that would be in League One. We are not there yet but we are in a strong position."
Neal is convinced he has developed over the last six months.
"I've grown this season as a goalkeeper and I can tell when I'm going out there on a Saturday," added the 26-year-old.
"Even after playing 30-odd games this season, I can read the game a lot better than I did last season.
"I feel a totally different goalkeeper to what I did 12 months ago and I think that comes down to experience."
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