Wolves' Dave Edwards loved Town return
Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards made a welcome return to his boyhood club – and stated his desire at earning a place in Kenny Jackett's starting line-up.
Edwards grew up supporting Shrewsbury and still returns to watch the club whenever he can.
The 29-year-old midfielder – who donned the captain's armband during the 1-1 draw – was given a rousing reception from both sets of fans when he came on as a half-time substitute.
And he said he was desperate to get in the team for Wolves' opening-day trip to Blackburn on August 8.
"I love coming back here, the fans always give me such a great reception," Edwards said.
"I was a proper boyhood fan and I do love the club, I come here as much as I can during the season and support them, it's a club close to my heart, I spent a lot of good years here and they gave me my chance.
"I really appreciated the reception when I came on. I wish them all the best this season – it's a tough league but if they can finish in the top half of the table it'll be a successful season.
"On a personal note it was good to get some minutes.
"I felt good for 15-20 minutes and then I was trying to find my lungs and my first touch!
"It's all part of pre-season so hopefully I'll get rid of the cobwebs and play a part on Tuesday (against Aston Villa) and Saturday (against Doncaster Rovers)."
Edwards played off striker Donovan Wilson as Jackett changed his team for the second half.
And within minutes he nearly scored one of the most spectacular goals of his career, hitting the underside of the bar with an overhead kick.
He said of the strike: "I didn't realise I had that flexibility in my hamstring to get my leg up there!"
"It was six inches away from being one of my better goals.
"The roles suits me pretty well. But there's obviously a lot of competition for it – I know it's going to be hard to break into the team.
"But I can play there and in a more deeper role as an 'eight'. I just want to be in the team, if the gaffer asked me to play left back I'd be happy to do it.
"The gaffer's got a lot of options, he started 4-4-2 and went to 4-2-3-1 in the second half, he can do either of those or 4-4-1-1, he's got to pick which he thinks is the right formation and right personnel for the right game.
"Everyone's just trying to get in the XI for Blackburn."
The draw ended Wolves' 100 per cent pre-season record but the team remain unbeaten.
And Edwards said that for results were as important as performances as Wolves build up to their league campaign.
"The unbeaten pre-season record is important," he said.
"It's always going to come down to performances but with the manager it's about results as well.
"I know a lot of managers don't say that but for us we need to get a winning mentality.
"Shrewsbury had the best defensive record in all the leagues last year and that's not something to be done easily, regardless of what league they're in.
"They were very competitive and it was a well fought game."
