Shrewsbury Town are active in the transfer market as their difficult start to the League Two season continues. Former Salop forward John Marquis has signed for National League side Woking, while the club is close to finalising a loan move for academy prospect Jeval Thompson-McKenzie.
Shrewsbury's current league position adds urgency to squad decisions. They sit 22nd in the table with three points from four matches, having scored only two goals while conceding eight. Their next challenge is a home fixture against high-flying Oldham Athletic on November 14th, a game where they will need to improve their recent form of one win and three losses.
Experienced striker John Marquis has joined Woking on a free transfer. The 34-year-old has signed a one-year contract with the National League club after his deal at Shrewsbury expired this summer. Marquis spent two seasons with Town, making 86 appearances across League One and League Two and scoring 18 goals.
His move to Woking marks the next chapter in a long EFL career. Marquis has played over 500 matches in the Football League, netting 171 goals for clubs including Millwall, Portsmouth, and Doncaster Rovers. Woking have made him their thirteenth signing of the summer window as they build their squad for the upcoming National League campaign. Shrewsbury fans can check the current squad composition on the club's official squad page.
Shrewsbury Town manager Gavin Cowan is sending young forward Jeval Thompson-McKenzie out on loan to gain senior experience. Cowan told reporters this week that the 18-year-old has been "earmarked" for a temporary move since the end of pre-season. "We're in the process of it now," Cowan said. "We're hoping to announce something really soon."
This will be the teenager's second loan spell. He spent the final weeks of last season at non-league Stourbridge in the Southern Central Premier division. Thompson-McKenzie signed a third-year scholarship with Shrewsbury this summer and was a regular in pre-season friendlies, but he has seen limited first-team action since the competitive campaign began. His only involvement was as an unused substitute in the EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town.
Jeval Thompson-McKenzie was a standout performer for Shrewsbury's successful Under-18 side last season. The academy product played a key role as the young Salop team completed a historic league double. They won both the EFL Youth Alliance North West and North divisions.
His performances in the forward areas during the senior team's pre-season preparations caught the manager's eye. Cowan praised the youngster for his contributions in those warm-up matches. Thompson-McKenzie's impending loan move is designed to bridge the gap between youth football and the first-team environment, providing him with regular competitive minutes at a senior level.
The departure of John Marquis and the loan exit of a promising young forward come at a time when Shrewsbury are struggling for goals. The team has found the net only twice in their first four League Two matches, leaving them six points behind early leaders Bristol Rovers. This goal shortage is a primary concern as they look to climb from 22nd place.
Manager Gavin Cowan will need to rely on his remaining attacking players to improve the team's output. The club's full fixtures list shows a busy schedule ahead, starting with the visit of Oldham. Supporters can track the team's progress and league position on the official standings page throughout the season. The next home game at the Croud Meadow is scheduled for November 14th.
