On-loan Blues right-back Josh Emmanuel hopes his loan spell in League One with Shrewsbury will help him fulfil his ultimate ambition of playing in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old joined the Shrews on deadline day and made his debut in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Portsmouth in which his former Town team-mate Brett Pitman netted from the penalty spot for Pompey.
The academy product, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham, is due to remain in Shropshire until the end of the campaign, although the spell can be cut short in January.
"Ultimately I want to play in the Premier League as most professionals do, I’m sure,” Emmanuel told the Shropshire Star.
"I’m just looking to gain experience, do what I need to do, help the team and make it a successful time for both parties.
"It’s easy for me to say the gaffer [John Askey] has impressed me, but he has. He’s come across very well in terms of knowing what I need to do. He’s just letting me get on with it and I’m grateful.”
The defender says Town boss Paul Hurst, who took the Shrews to the League One play-off final last season where coincidentally they were beaten by the Millers and Emmanuel, told him why he felt he needed to go out on another loan.
"I didn’t actually play a competitive game with Paul Hurst so I couldn’t really tell you what he’s like in a competitive environment,” he said.
"There were positive reviews. I came here late, on deadline day, it was all positive and he told me to come and get the experience I need.
"The gaffer here is quite relaxed. He lets us do what we know we need to do and it’s very organised and structured here.”
He added: "I’m looking forward to the challenge. You only need to look at last season to see what the club achieved and hopefully we can do more even this season.”
Emmanuel has made 17 starts for the Blues plus a further five appearances from the bench, his last game for Town having been at Nottingham Forest on the final day of 2016/17. He is contracted until the summer of 2019 with the club having an option for a further season.