Former Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner says Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against another of his former teams, Wolverhampton Wanders, is a chance for the League Two strugglers to “express themselves” and potentially “ignite” their difficult season.
Salop are 22nd in the table, only two points clear of the relegation zone, having won four out of their 24 league games.
Turner began and ended his management career with Town, with his first spell between 1978 and 1984 before returning in 2010 for four more years, winning a promotion in each of his periods at the helm.
He says he hopes current Shrewsbury head coach Michael Appleton can make the team believe they can give Wolves – in a fight to hang on to their Premier League status this season – a run for their money at Molineux.
“He’ll be talking about hard work and discipline,” Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire.
“The team have got to be well organised but don’t need to be motivated. If you’re not motivated at a game like this they shouldn’t be playing.
“It’s up to the manager to emphasise what they’re good at and get them to play with freedom.
“Nobody expects a result for Shrewsbury, so you’ve got that freedom to go and express yourself. The FA Cup could ignite a season.”