Shrewsbury Town's John Marsden ready to deliver knockout blow

And the 20-year-old Liverpudlian has seen his fair share of punches in the boxing ring as well.

Marsden, who joined Town in the summer, is an avid fan of the 'noble art' and he even adopted a few of the sport's conditioning drills to help him get into shape ahead of the current League One season.

A broken foot in early-August sidelined him for almost two months but he has recently returned to training.

And having made the bench for the last two games, he feels ready for action should he be needed this weekend.

"I feel completely comfortable going out there and playing," he said. "I have had a few knocks on my foot in training and it seems to be fine.

"I haven't done any boxing training during the season so far but in the off-season I did a little bit, not sparring but mainly the fitness side of it because I know a few boxers from Liverpool.

I am a big boxing fan and I did get in the gym for a couple of days for conditioning and cardio, and I enjoy it."

Despite Marsden's love of the sport, he has never laced up the gloves competitively, but he remains an admirer of the fighters that do. Among his favourites are fellow Scousers Tony Bellew, the reigning Commonwealth light heavyweight champion, as well as the Smith brothers, Paul, Stephen, Liam and Callum – the first three of which all hold British titles.

He is backing Bellew to garner more glory on his home town when he challenges Canada's WBC light-heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in November.

But Marsden's own focus remains firmly fixed on getting back in contention for a starting place up front. He will face tough competition from top-scorer Tom Bradshaw as well as recent loan signings Cristian Lopez and Liam McAlinden.

But he said: "It is going to be hard for me to get back in the team but I have got no doubt that once I am fit enough I will be able to do that."