TRUST ME WITH JASON, URGES RICKETTS
LEAGUE ONE SAM Ricketts has defended his decision to leave Jason Cummings on the bench in recent weeks and says the Scotland international has accepted the reasons for his spell on the sidelines.
The Shrewsbury boss left the 24-year-old striker out for matches against Oxford and Coventry, a move that may have surprised some fans after he scored four goals in eight games to kick-start his career at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
But the former Hibernian man then went six games without a goal for Ricketts’ side, with his manager saying the reasons for his recent omission were entirely justifiable.
“Jason has had a real stop-start 12 months or a little bit longer,” he said.
“He had no pre-season this year because he wasn’t featuring at Nottingham Forest.
“He came in with a bang with his performances and goals and then had the natural lull afterwards from missing pre-season. It’s a slow one with Jason and he appreciates that, and it’s one where we need to keep improving his fitness.
“It’s not just that, it’s allowing him to relax and enjoying playing football with a solid base of work underneath him to allow that.”
Cummings was unleashed from the bench in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Coventry, demonstrating his class in playing an influential role in the build-up to Shaun Whalley’s dramatic stoppage-time winner.
And Ricketts was delighted Cummings’ role as a substitute paid off, hailing his impact.
“We bring him on for ten minutes because he’s a goalscorer and he set one up with some hold-up play, vision and running to the front post which leaves Shaun to score,” he added.
“You have to get a balance to every game, respect what the opposition are going to do against you.”