Terry Dunfield returns to former club Macclesfield desperate to help Shrewsbury Town start another unbeaten run – while also hoping his bright form might earn him a first call-up to play for Canada.
The midfielder played 68 games for the Silkmen, scoring three times, in an 18-month spell at Moss Rose before joining Town just over a year ago. Now he admits he’s looking forward to Saturday’s clash which is another important one towards Shrewsbury’s promotion aspirations after their five-match unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end by Accrington Stanley.
“This is definitely a game I’ve looked out for,” said Dunfield, one of four nominees for the League Two PFA fans’ player of the month award for January. “It’s an important one for us to bounce back in after things not going so well last Saturday, but we’re in good form.”
Not that Dunfield expects anything other than a tough assignment in Cheshire given that Macclesfield came within seconds of winning at the Prostar on Boxing Day.
“They were very good here in that game,” said Dunfield. “They had a few lively players and were solid at the back. People say we didn’t play well on the day but I think you have to give Macclesfield a lot of credit.
“They’ve got a system they stick to, the players are well drilled by Keith Alexander and we know all about it. We’ll work hard this week on how to break them down and where their weaknesses are and it’s up to us to take the game to them.”
Dunfield, happy with his own form, has emerged as a key man for Town and would love to help bring success to the Prostar in a wide open promotion race, insisting anyone down to Port Vale in 12th spot will believe they can make the play-offs.
“It’s taken a little while but I’ve found my feet and I’ve found a nice home in Shrewsbury,” he said. “I’ve started to show the fans, players, manager and the chairman what I can do now.
“We’ve now got two big games coming up with Macclesfield away and Barnet at home next Tuesday, and if we can get six points out of those, we’re back in there and I don’t think any team will fancy playing us.”
Dunfield added that, while doing well for Shrewsbury is his priority, he would love the chance to step onto the international stage with Canada.
“Unfortunately in my career, I keep getting injured at the wrong time or the manager gets sacked by Canada,” he said. “But hopefully maybe in the summer, when one or two are resting their legs, I’ll be there ready to play and what a great opportunity that would be.”
Meanwhile, boss Paul Simpson revealed skipper Graham Coughlan is set to return from injury this weekend but right back Dean Holden is likely to out again.
“Graham will be available unless he has any problems in training and it will be good to have him back,” said Simpson. “The two centre halves have done okay but we have missed his experience.”
Simpson added there can be no repeat of Town’s sorry display the last time they visited Macclesfield last season when they were beaten 3-0.
“That was probably one of the biggest disappointments of our season,” he recalled. “We have to make sure we’re totally prepared and make sure the kick up the pants we got against Accrington is used in a positive way. We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go and have a scrap with them if that’s what it has to be.”
By Stuart Dunn