Two returning loanees will be given a fresh opportunity to impress at Shrewsbury Town this summer.
Max Mata and Roland Idowu will begin pre-season with a clean slate under Michael Appleton’s new regime at the Croud Meadow.
Mata, who has spent the past season back in his homeland with Auckland FC in New Zealand, and Idowu, who featured in the Scottish Premiership with St Mirren, were both sent out on loan last summer as part of the club’s restructuring. However, both are set to be reintegrated under the guidance of head coach Michael Appleton and his staff.
Speaking to local media on Tuesday, O’Donnell offered clarity on their status heading into the new campaign.
“Absolutely, yes,” he said, when asked whether the pair would be involved this summer. “Everyone who reports in pre-season has a clean slate. So we are all moving in the right direction.
“It has been a difficult season for the football club. That is previous, now we are looking forward, and we want to be really positive in how we approach it.
“We want it to be a really positive work environment for them to come into because that is what it is – they have to come into that with a positive mindset and be prepared to take risks and embrace the challenges that we put upon them.”
Idowu made his final appearance for St Mirren in their 1-1 draw with Celtic at the weekend. O’Donnell had hoped to watch the winger from the start, though he only featured as a substitute.
“I was hoping he would start, which he didn’t. I was set up ready to watch the game. He came on as a substitute.
“Yes, we have [kept tabs on them]. I cannot say that we have seen loads of them just because of how quickly games have turned around here, and having to prepare for games.
“Obviously, it was just before the last game of the season that we agreed terms to stay at the club for a further two years, so we are aware of them.
“We know they are coming in to report on the first day of pre-season, and that is when we will physically get to meet them face to face, which we are looking forward to.”
Writer’s View
This marks a reset for Shrewsbury Town under Michael Appleton, and the decision to give Mata and Idowu a clean slate highlights a shift in club culture. The reintegration of previously exiled players underlines Appleton’s intent to assess every individual on current merit, not past roles.
With pre-season shaping up and fixtures already in the diary, Shrewsbury fans can expect a more unified and open approach moving forward, particularly after the turbulence of last season. If Mata and Idowu can take their chances, they could yet play a key role in Appleton’s rebuild.
