Cambridge United boss Neil Harris puts focus on his own team ahead of Sky Bet League One clash at Shrewsbury Town
Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris believes that the club’s work during the January transfer window will see them head into tomorrow’s clash at Shrewsbury Town as ‘a different animal’.
The U’s bolstered their attacking ranks with the signings of experienced strikers Lyle Taylor and Macauley Bonne, while James Gibbons will provide cover in both full-back positions.
Meanwhile, there is an element of the unknown about this weekend’s hosts following the recent return of Paul Hurst as manager.
Hurst, who had two positive years with the Shrews between 2016 and 2018 before leaving to take charge of Ipswich Town, kicked off his second tenure at New Meadow with a 2-0 win at Northampton Town on 27 January. The victory was also notable for a change in set-up, with Hurst opting to dispose of a defensive three in favour of a 4-3-3 system.
That leaves Harris uncertain as to the approach that Shrewsbury will adopt, yet he is more concerned about getting the best out of the players at his disposal.
“It (the win over Northampton) was a good performance and a good result. New manager bounce, we know what that’s like,” he said. “I know Hursty and Chris Doig the assistant. He’s gone back to a club that he knows well.
“They changed (shape) last week for the game, but what they do going forward, who knows?
“It’s a different opponent definitely, and the simple fact is that they’ve got a new manager bounce and they changed shape last week.
“What we face on Saturday will be our best guess, but we know – especially with the quality we’ve added in the window and George Thomas being back fit – we’re going to be a different animal now moving forward.
“We’ve got options in the group, so we’re really focussing about us now.”
Shrewsbury head into the encounter 15th in the Sky Bet League One standings, one point and one place better off than United.
The U’s have not won a league match away at Shrewsbury since April 1991.
