Shrewsbury Town boss confident for Argyle opener

Boss Graham Turner insists new-look Shrewsbury Town are on course for the big kick-off on Saturday – but believes it could be five or six weeks before they hit top form.

Turner has brought in six new faces since the end of last season, with 10 departing the club.

And while he has been pleased with what he has seen from the new recruits, he admits the gelling process could still take some time.

"They have shown they are capable players, they have shown that they are capable of fitting into a team plan," he said ahead of the opener against Plymouth Argyle.

"I think it will take another five or six games for them to really get the understanding with each other and it's the same with fitness."

Town played a training ground friendly against Oswestry-based Welsh Premier side The New Saints yesterday lunchtime.

And they secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from summer signing Marvin Morgan and former Aston Villa youngster James Collins.

That represented a big improvement on their last public friendly – a 2-0 defeat at home to League One side Tranmere Rovers last Friday.

The performance in that one disappointed the Town chief, though he has been satisfied by the reaction on the training ground and believes they are in good shape for their League Two opener against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

"I've been pleased with what we've brought in and, in the main, with how we've looked in pre-season," said Turner.

"We obviously had the hiccup against Tranmere last Friday but I think that's all it was, and we've still got one or two players that can get fitter.

"One or two missed the bulk of the real, hard pre-season – either because of injury or because at that point we hadn't signed them.

"Overall I look at the spirit in the side, the quality and the balance of young players and more experienced ones, and I think it's looking good."

By Chris Hudson