Micky Mellon believes he was proved 'right' on Dominic Smith switch
Dominic Smith has been backed to continue as Shrewsbury Town's right-back.
The 19-year-old, who has been playing central defence, was the choice to surprisingly replace ever-present Matt Tootle in Sunday's FA Cup win at Gainsborough.
A question mark now hangs over Tootle, who didn't make an 18-man squad which contained youngster Sam Patterson, while Town have failed to sign free agent Kevin Foley in his position this week.
Manager Micky Mellon has so far stayed tight-lipped on Tootle, but believes Smith can make a success of the right-back role.
"Dom has all the qualities to play right-back – he's very assured, he's a good defender and he's a good athlete who can get up and down the pitch," said Mellon.
"It was one I had to think long and hard about because, if I'd got it wrong, I'd have been criticised with people asking 'why have you moved young Dom?'
"But we believe we got it right because he put in another fantastic performance. He's a great kid. He's played there before. It was like when I played Zak Whitbread in midfield, he has the qualities we needed at that time.
"You have to do that sometimes. When you have someone who can head the ball and play a bit, you should put them in there."
Team-mate Anthony Gerrard has played alongside Smith at centre-back and now at full-back and reckons he can excel – if he learns his lessons of inexperience.
"It's down to his desire, but he's got all the attributes to be a very good footballer at centre-back or right-back,"said Gerrard.
"But he's a young, athletic defender and, when you're so inexperienced in the Football League, there are certain things you do and don't do.
"You're as keen as mustard and want to head every ball, make every tackle and make those raking 60-yard passes.
"But the more experienced you get, you realise there are battles you can win, and those you can't.
"I learned that at 18 playing for Walsall against Wayne Allison at Chesterfield. That was a wake-up call."
