Sean Goss is relishing being effective in his new role with Shrewsbury Town
Sean Goss is keen to deliver on the pressure of chalking up more goals and assists in a new and unfamiliar attacking midfield role.
The Shrewsbury midfielder has started as a ‘No.10’, as the attacking of three midfielders, in Shrewsbury’s last two games – victories over Swindon and Sunderland.
Goss, 25, was also a crucial part of wins at Hull and Lincoln under Steve Cotterill before Christmas, but a quad injury checked his progress. Goss, formerly a deep-lying midfielder, was brought in from the cold by Cotterill, after he was sent to train with Town’s youth team by former boss Sam Ricketts, and now the midfielder is relishing the chance to be more effective in the final third.
“When the manager first pulled me over and said I was playing there he said it was going to be different for me,” former Manchester United youngster Goss said.
“It’s a lot different to the sitting role, receiving the ball in different areas, it’s a lot tighter. I was quite surprised the first time I played there, but I’m learning every game and want to build on it.
“The main difference is, when you do win the ball up there, it’s higher rewards because you’re so much higher, there’s more chance going on to score.
“When you’re playing that high up the pitch, behind the striker, you need to score goals. The Swindon game I was possibly a bit unlucky not to score. Fingers crossed once I get that first goal I can take a bit of weight off Chappy’s shoulders.
“The big difference now is, when we have the ball there’s a lot more numbers in there and I believe everyone’s comfortable on the ball, there’s a lot more trust.”
Goss went close to scoring at Swindon and unfortunately had a legitimate free-kick incorrect ruled out by an errant offside flag against Sunderland.
He is playing just in front of in-form duo Ollie Norburn and Josh Vela and in the middle of attacking trio Harry Chapman, Shaun Whalley and Curtis Main.
“It’s definitely another position for me, the more positions you play the better it is,” Goss added.
“It’s given me another outlook on how to see games. Even though it’s not that far a difference on the pitch it is totally different when you’re playing. I’m really enjoying learning it.”
