Flying Dutchman Benjamin van den Broek insists he would like to stay at Shrewsbury Town next season despite already receiving contract offers from his homeland.
The attack-minded midfielder, who rejected a dozen clubs from across Europe to join Town in February, says he is enjoying himself at the Prostar and hopes the positive impact he made as a sub in Tuesday’s goalless draw against Cheltenham will earn him a start at home to Lincoln City on Saturday.
Van den Broek’s short term deal with Shrewsbury expires at the end of this season, and while he’s concentrating on trying to help Town defy the odds by grabbing a play-off spot, he’s waiting to see what will happen come the summer.
“Nothing’s been spoken about next season because we just want to make it to the play-offs, that’s the most important thing,” said van den Broek.
“I want to stay but it depends on what the club offers me of course.
“There are a few clubs in Holland that have offered me contracts for next season.
“I could sign for two years at a club in Holland who have already offered me a contract.
“They’re heading for promotion to the highest division so it’s a good club and it’s near my old house.
“But I just want to play in England and I want to be a good player here so I will see what happens.”
Despite being restricted to just two starts for Shrewsbury, van den Broek has made a favourable impression with the fans and he’s quickly settled in off the field, too, sharing a house the club rent in the town with loan duo Dave Button and Joe Skarz.
“I’ve been here two months now and I really enjoy it,” he said. “Everybody’s really nice to me.”
Now he hopes he’s done enough to break back into the starting XI against the Imps this weekend for a match Town just have to win to keep alive their outside chances of snatching a top seven spot.
“It took a few months to settle in and get used to the pace of English football and my team mates,” he added.
“But I feel good now and every time I come onto the pitch I want to do well and show the manager where I want to play.
“I’m desperate to start every week so we’ll see.
“It’s still in our own hands because we’ve still got to play teams like Port Vale and Northampton and if we can win our last four games I think we can make it.
“It felt like a missed opportunity against Cheltenham, but we got a point so we’re still six points off the play-offs and everybody here will keep going for it.”
By Stuart Dunn