James Bolton will battle to keep hold of first-team spot at Shrewsbury Town
James Bolton is primed to do battle for his place in Shrewsbury's first-team as Joe Riley returns from an injury lay-off.
Riley is back in full training with Paul Hurst's squad after he broke his fibula and sustained ligament damage on the final day of last season.
Ex-Bolton Wanderers trainee Riley is a big favourite of Hurst's. But the injury, picked up in late April, has hampered Riley's pre-season and Town's boss moved to Gateshead man Bolton, who was signed on an undisclosed fee from the north-east outfit.
Bolton, who turned 23 on Sunday, has quickly looked at home in blue and amber and made light work of stepping up two divisions. He gave an impressive display in Saturday's win at AFC Wimbledon.
"We will be both pushing each other to get the start when he's fit and I think that's only good," said the ex-FC Halifax man.
"My job is to play and keep him out the team and it'll be vice-versa when he's back and plays. He'll be trying to get me out of the team.
"He welcomed me in really well. All of the lads have to be honest.
"After the games they are always saying 'well done'."
Bolton, who still had two years to run on his Gateshead deal before joining Town, admitted the professional nature of his new club has taken him by surprise.
He referenced the use of GPS data, which the club use to track energy levels and distance covered in training and match-days, as an example.
"It's been really good working with the gaffer," Bolton added.
"He's positive, the little details he's got – the whole club has just been really good.
"There's a few things here that I've never seen, like the GPS and the data they get from that, it's crazy. It's really professional.
"If you're not running the GPS will show you're not running. It does push you a little bit, you've got to do it."
Since making his debut in a friendly victory over Wolves, Town's back four of Bolton, Toto Nsiala, Mat Sadler and Junior Brown has had a familiar ring to it.
Bolton added: "It takes time with a back four. Once you do have that partnership right and everyone on the same note then it can work really well and get you results."
