Aaron Wilbraham hails 'unbelievable' Shrewsbury Town boss Steve Cotterill

Cotterill will return to Montgomery Waters Meadow for his first match in person for more than four months after an immensely challenging fight with Covid-19 and Covid pneumonia.

The Town chief has spent 24 matches managing from afar while Town, with Aaron Wilbraham and David Longwell at the helm, attempted to help steer the team to League One safety.

Cotterill told his No.2 of his decision to return with three games of the season remaining on Wednesday night and players were told yesterday morning. Wilbraham insists it is only the 56-year-old’s mental and physical strength that has brought him back before the summer.

“I don’t think any other person, in that position, would’ve been able to make it (back for a game this season), I’ll be honest,” Wilbraham said.

“I know how strong he is as a person, and know it’s been him pushing the specialists for them to lower his steroids, he’s always pushing himself and putting his body on the line.

“It does show what kind of person he is, definitely. I was thinking at best he might make the last game, but the fact it’s with three games to go is fantastic.”

Wilbraham, Cotterill’s former Bristol City striker, revealed the manager had – on several occasions – revealed his guilt and frustration at ‘letting everybody down’ when results went against his side. The assistant told his boss he was ‘mad’.

The pair spoke about how they were tempted for Cotterill to use his usual system of conducting tomorrow’s team talk over the telephone through the loudspeakers, before surprising the players – but decided to let them know in advance.

Wilbraham, who only retired from playing last summer, cannot wait to be ‘on the front line’ with ‘the gaffer’ again.

“I’m not sure if he’ll be in the dugout or in the stand,” he added. “But even if he is in the stand I’m sure he’d be down within five minutes anyway!

“But I don’t know, from speaking to him, the fact he wants to come given the physical state he’s been in, is an unbelievable effort.

“Even in the early games, when the gaffer was here, at Lincoln and Hull, I found myself stood up for the whole game anyway, I think I’m that type that wants to be involved with the manager on the front line, that’s the way we both are.”

Town face the play-off chasing U’s before welcoming Ipswich on Tuesday and ending the season on the road at Crewe on Sunday week.