Jon Nolan seeking to improve Shrewsbury Town goal tally

The popular midfield man opened his blue and amber goal account with the winner in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Southend.

The 23rd-minute strike sent Paul Hurst’s side three points clear at the top of League One.

And Hurst, who bought Nolan from Chesterfield and handed him a three-year deal this summer, is one of several people keen to see the 25-year-old find the net more regularly.

Nolan, who is from Liverpool and car shares with winger and fellow scouser Shaun Whalley, is more often than not watched by his dad and grandad in the stands.

“The gaffer and Doigy are on at me every day to shoot and hopefully more will come now after the first one,” admitted the ex-Grimsby man.

“They’re on my case every day, even my dad is, he always says ‘shoot’, so hopefully that’s the first of many.

“My dad comes to the games and my grandad. My girlfriend came to the Wigan game but she’s a bit of a glory-hunter, she only comes to the big games!

“Sometimes I need to be a bit more selfish and go myself, if you don’t shoot you don’t score.

"I’ve never scored double figures (in a season) but I don’t really think it’s beyond me – I’ve just got to shoot haven’t I? Then hopefully they’ll go in.

“I think sometimes it can be luck, that’s what happened against Southend, I’ll have to see it back. Someone said it got a deflection but it never.”

Hurst said: “I don’t think he’s got double figures before and I don’t think he’ll get it, hand on heart.

“I’d be happy for him to prove me wrong but I certainly think he can get five, six or seven, maybe eight.

“He does frustrate me in and around the box at times because I feel he’s got all the ability in the world.

"At times it’s like he wants to give the ball away (to a team-mate), which with some players you want them to but when you’ve got ability like Jon has, at times I want him to be a little more selfish.”

Nolan has settled quickly into life in Shropshire and is already a firm favourite with the Montgomery Waters Meadow faithful.

He added: “I’m enjoying every minute of it. We’re top of the league. It’s a great group of lads and obviously the gaffer and Doigy are doing a great job.

“I don’t really go on social media or any of that too much but they (the fans) gave me a nice reception when I came off the pitch.”