Town boss facing transfer dilemma over striker
TOWN boss Danny Cowley has spoken about the future for highly-rated left-back Jaden Brown.
The 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur product returned to action just before Christmas, having been sidelined by an ankle injury since the win at Brentford in early November.
Brown played in five league and cup matches but, having been taken
DANNY Cowley has a transfer window quandary over striker Rekeil Pyke, who is emerging as a target for League One Shrewsbury Town.
The Town boss recalled the 22-year-old frontman from his loan at Rochdale so that he could get to know the player better and have a serious look at him. Pyke – who scored three off at half-time during the 2-1 defeat by Barnsley at Oakwell, he was dropped to the bench for the goalless draw with Brentford at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Now the Londonder, who is an England U19 cap, is facing a battle to regain his spot following Cowley’s signing of his Lincoln City left-back Harry Toffolo.
The 24-year-old Toffolo became a regular in Cowley’s successful Lincoln side and made a very favourable impression on debut, so goals in 20 appearances for the Spotland club – has been training with Cowley’s first-team group at PPG Canalside and, consequently, wasn’t considered for the U19 Premier
League Cup match at Sunderland on Monday.
He was wanted to play a full part in Tuesday’s first-team training session and would have had to do recovery, rather than full training, had he played in the north east. Ideally, Cowley would he could be set for an extended run in the Championship line-up.
Toffolo and Emile Smith Rowe (from Arsenal) have played significant football this season, while Andy King and Richard Stearman have enjoyed limited game time.
Talking of the four successful incoming loans, and the challenge for the squad in general and Brown in particular, Cowley explained: “Andy and Richard have played less so this season, but for us to sign players of that experience, with that leadership quality and the substance they have as people – as well as the experience they have as players – is great.
“If they were playing every week for their clubs then they just wouldn’t be available because they are gold dust – very, very important parts and cogs of their teams.
“So we are respectful of that and want to get Pyke into his Championship matchday squad and, possibly, take a look at him from the bench.
But were he to do that, the player would not be able to go out on loan to another Football League club this season because players are not allowed to play for three League clubs in the same season.
Non-league loans are not an issue in this regard, hence Rarmani EdmondsGreen understand that. This is why we have tried to balance it with the work we have done.
“We have tried to bring in some players also who have been playing regularly.”
On the signings being able to play 90 minutes at this stage, the boss added: “Certainly, for more experienced players that have that knowhow, and that exposure to so much football, yes, they get good at working through games. I always think it’s harder for the younger ones.
“Look at young Jaden Brown, who has done great and then got injured – it’s much harder for him, post injury, to pick up the level of form he had prior to the injury – and that’s just an experience thing.
“He will now be better for this second run of games the next time he gets put in this situation.”
He will now be better for this second run of games the next time he’s in this situation
has been able to join Swindon Town having played for Town in the Championship and Bromley in the National League.
Aaron Mooy, on the other hand, cannot play for another league club this season because he has appeared for both Town and Brighton.
Shrewsbury’s interest in Pyke is probably fired by Dean Whitehead.
He knows Pyke well from his time in the Town Academy.