Cox’s Impact at Shrewsbury
Matt Cox, 23, joined Shrewsbury Town on loan from Brentford in the second half of the 2023/24 season. He made 18 consecutive appearances for the club, helping the club secure League Two safety. Shrewsbury manager Gavin Cowan praised Cox, saying, “Coxy did great for us last year. (I was) disappointed to see him go to League Two, because I thought he’d done enough to kick on.”
Cowan added that Cox was a “lovely, lovely lad” and that he wished him all the best in his career after Saturday’s match.
Barnet Loan and Current Form
Cox has joined Barnet on a season‑long loan for the 2024/25 campaign. He featured in Barnet’s opening League Two victory over Salford City. Barnet will visit Croud Meadow this weekend for Shrewsbury’s first home competitive game of the new season, meaning Cox could return to his former club for the first time since leaving.
Cowan noted that Barnet is “a very good football club” and that Cox “will smell that they’ll have a good season.” He also mentioned that Brentford might have told Cox, “Look, we don’t care where you go, just go and get games because we want you to be our number one.”
Potential Return to Croud Meadow
With Barnet’s visit to Croud Meadow scheduled for this weekend, Cox’s return to Shrewsbury is a real possibility. Cowan’s comments suggest that the manager is open to bringing the former loanee back, especially given Cox’s impressive run last season and his proximity to the club.
The match against Barnet will be Shrewsbury’s first home competitive fixture of the new season, and Cox could re‑appear at Croud Meadow for the first time since his departure.
