Christos Shelis signs two-year Shrewsbury Town contract

The 17-year-old Cyprus youth international was a regular in Paul Hurst’s pre-season plans and has since trained with Town’s first team.

The highly-rated centre-half has continued to feature for Shrewsbury’s youth set-up but Hurst hinted that his time in the first-team squad could come sooner rather than later.

Shelis left Cyrpus as a 12-year-old to join Arsenal’s academy in Greece, where he spent four years before moving to London. He joined Grimsby, catching the attention of Hurst, before following the boss to the New Meadow.

“The best compliment I can give him is that he hasn’t looked out of place in the slightest,” said Hurst.

“He came away with us (to Portugal) and did very well in pre-season.

“We think there’s a player there. I’m certainly not heaping pressure on him by any stretch.

“He is a good character. He’s certainly not shy. He doesn’t look out of place, is very comfortable and fits into the group.

“I remember the first time I saw him, I didn’t even see him, my back was to him and I heard a voice that I didn’t recognise.

“I turned around and it was Christos organising people and really taking the lead in a session. That stood out massively.

“At the end of one session holding him up to the senior players and saying ‘look, that’s what I want more of from you lads as well’.”

Shelis, who has five caps for Cyprus Under-17s, impressed for Town in pre-season victories against Aston Villa and Wolves.

He played at right-back in those games.

“I’m really delighted to get rewarded for my hard work,” said Shelis, who turns 18 in February.

“This is just the beginning really. It’s absolutely nothing and it just means I have to put my hard work in now and prove that I’m someone that can play and be in the starting XI – that’s my aim.

“Seeing us first (in the table) now is absolutely amazing to be involved with.”