Shrewsbury City: Ex-England goalkeeper Joe Hart joins membership as a stand-in coach

Shrewsbury-born Hart got here via the Shropshire membership’s ranks and featured 58 occasions for them earlier than being sold to Manchester City as a 19-year-old in 2006, a deal that was finally value £1.5m.

What satisfied him to as soon as once more put on the Shrewsbury package was the possibility to assist 22-year-old Matthew Cox, who’s on mortgage at Shrewsbury from Premier League aspect Brentford, and substitute goalkeeper Will Brook.

Asked if it was surreal to have the membership badge on his chest once more, Hart stated: “It is, but my life’s been surreal – the whole thing.

“When the chance got here and so they requested, I put myself ahead to be there for Coxie and Will tonight.

“I’m just absolutely honoured and delighted that I could come and do it and that we enjoyed a successful evening.”

Victory at Salford prolonged Shrewsbury’s profitable run to 5 league matches and added to the unimaginable turnaround below Cowan, who has overseen only one defeat in seven matches since taking the job in late January.

Cowan stated it was “a real privilege” to have Hart by his aspect for the newest victory that moved the membership as much as seventeenth within the desk and 12 factors away from the relegation locations.

“He’s a great guy, and to show humility to want to come and help us,” Cowan stated.

“Me and [assistant manager] David Edwards called on him for a little bit of support and asked if he knew anyone.

“He has volunteered to come back in and has been a breath of recent air. The lads have actually taken to him.

“He really wants to come back to his hometown club and offer something if he can. But again, I don’t want people to read too much into it. It’s just genuinely a mate helping out mates.”