Paul Hurst targeting more additions for new look Shrewsbury

Town’s pre-season is ticking along nicely as striker Josh Kayode checked in on loan on Friday night before former trialist goalkeeper Joe Young signed a one-year deal the following day, as Hurst’s men beat the Championship visitors 2-1.

Also involved against the Rams was trialist midfielder Jordan Rossiter, 27, the former Liverpool youngster who is a free agent after leaving Bristol Rovers. Rossiter caught the eye and held talks with Hurst afterwards and is set to feature in a friendly at neighbours AFC Telford United tomorrow evening.

Rossiter could be one of up to four more additions set to bolster Hurst’s squad between now and deadline day, with the League One kick-off two Saturdays away.

When asked how many more signings he hopes to secure, Hurst replied with a smile: “Three or four, don’t quote me on that exactly because then people might say ‘you said that!’

“But in reality three definitely, probably four, if you included a midfielder.”

Summer signing Tommi O’Reilly, the impressive young Villa loan attacker, opened the scoring for Salop against League One promotion winners Derby with a deflected free-kick.

Former Shrewsbury hitman James Collins equalised shortly afterwards before Tom Bloxham struck a second-half winner following a neat move.

It concluded a productive weekend for Town, who yesterday held an open day at Croud Meadow, offering supporters a chance to get up close and personal with players and staff.

Rossiter, who played for Rangers after Liverpool and also had a Football League spell with Fleetwood, impressed with a battling performance against the Rams before coming off late in the game.

There was also first involvement for goalkeeper Toby Savin, who has recovered from an injury and played the first 45 minutes.

He was replaced at the interval by Young, the former Wolves academy shot-stopper released by the Molineux club this summer. Shrewsbury-born Young has spent pre-season on trial with Town and agreed a one-year contract in his home county.

He was the second signing of the weekend after powerful Rotherham striker Kayode, 24, checked in on loan.

Nigeria-born Kayode, a Republic of Ireland youth international, was present but did not feature against Derby but could make his first appearance against the Bucks tomorrow.

Hurst described the frontman as a big physical presence to battle for a forward position with fellow new boy John Marquis, the seasoned League One goalscorer.

It is Kayode’s seventh loan away from the Millers.