Shrewsbury's Josh Emmanuel has Premier ambitions
Ambitious defender Josh Emmanuel has his sights set on the top – and believes John Askey will help him get there.
The attack-minded right-back, 21, checked into Montgomery Waters Meadow on the loan deadline day from Paul Hurst’s Ipswich.
Emmanuel caught the eye with an energetic debut in the impressive draw at Portsmouth last weekend.
The Londoner, of Nigerian descent, has made 24 first-team appearances at Portman Road – none under Hurst – but is aiming for the top flight and thinks well-structured Shrewsbury is a way of helping him get there.
“Ultimately I want to play in the Premier League as most professionals do, I’m sure,” said Emmanuel.
“I’m just looking to gain experience, do what I need to do, help the team and make it a successful time for both parties.
“It’s easy for me to say the gaffer has impressed me, but he has. He’s come across very well in terms of knowing what I need to do.
“He’s just letting me get on with it and I’m grateful.”
On Hurst, who left the Meadow for Suffolk shortly after last season’s play-off final defeat at Wembley, Emmanuel added: “I didn’t actually play a competitive game with Paul Hurst so I couldn’t really tell you what he’s like in a competitive environment.
“There was positive reviews. I came here late, on deadline day, it was all positive and he told me to come and get the experience I need.
“The gaffer here is quite relaxed. He lets us do what we know we need to do and it’s very organised and structured here.”
The right-back, who played against Town for his previous loan side Rotherham in the play-off final last term, wants to make the same impression as the likes of former loanees Dean Henderson and Ben Godfrey.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he added. “You only need to look at last season to see what the club achieved and hopefully we can do more even this season.”
