Sharpe vows to be driving force for Shrewsbury

Sharpe, 20, was snapped up by Town boss Micky Mellon on an initial month's loan from Derby County yesterday to bolster his defensive options for their League Two title push.

The Rams Academy graduate faces a drive of nearly two hours from his home in Nottingham to the Greenhous Meadow – but he insists he would have travelled much further to join if necessary.

He said: "I am from Nottingham so it took me about an hour and 45 minutes to get here. It was a bit wet as well so wasn't the best of journeys.

"But I am just happy to be here. I'd have travelled to the other side of the country to get an opportunity like this."

Sharpe, who can play at left-back, centre-back and midfielder, will add extra versatility to Town's defensive options.

He will offer Mellon another left footed option in his defence which has been hampered by an injury to Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

And Sharpe, who signed his first professional contract with the Rams in the summer of 2013, is determined to force his way into the team as quickly as possible.

He said: "I am ready to go, itching to try to get myself a place in the team. Obviously I don't expect to just be brought down here and put straight in the team, but I'd like to think that I am going to get some game time.

"The point of coming on loan is to play games and that is what I am here to do and Id love to get some first team experience.

"Hopefully that will happen but it is down to me doing well, and we will see what happens."

Asked what attributes he can bring to the team, he said: "I'm athletic, I can get up and own the pitch, I like to attack and I am pretty solid defensively."

Sharpe, who was expected to go into the squad for today's trip to Wycombe Wanderers, is currently a member of the Rams under-21s side.

But he has had experience playing in front of sizeable crowds as a Northern Ireland U21 international and he said he will be undaunted at the prospect of playing in front of expectant League Two crowds.

He said: "Hopefully that will stand me in good stead. I have played in Serbia as well which is quite hostile and hopefully that experience will help here and this will bring the best out of me."

"I am still developing, I am not at my peak so I am coming here to learn and I am looking forward to contributing to the title challenge."