Kian McMahon-Brown has set his sights on a scoring run after marking his Shrewsbury Town debut with a goal. The 18-year-old loanee from Burnley found the net in the eighth minute of Saturday's 2-0 home victory over Northampton Town, a result that lifted the side to 18th in League Two.
His first senior strike, which was followed by a Kevin Berkoe goal just before half-time, ended a run of two consecutive defeats and provided a vital three points. McMahon-Brown, who celebrated by pointing to his mother in the stands, described the moment as special and immediately turned his attention to the future. "I said it to a few of the lads, as soon as you get the first goal you can push on from there," he said.
The Republic of Ireland youth international arrived at the Croud Meadow this summer after being named Burnley's academy player of the year. He believes the daily challenge of training with senior professionals has already elevated his game. "I want to prove that I'm up to the standard, up to this level," McMahon-Brown stated, outlining his ambition to become a regular contributor. He acknowledged the physical step up in the EFL but is confident his quality on the ball will shine through.
Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst praised the youngster's impact. Hurst indicated that McMahon-Brown has earned further opportunities with his performance. The player himself expressed gratitude for the trust shown in him and is determined to repay it with more goals and assists.
His immediate target is to help Shrewsbury build on their win, which brought their tally to six points from six matches. The team's standings position shows room for improvement, but the clean sheet against Northampton was a positive step after conceding ten goals in the opening five games. McMahon-Brown noted the importance of the defensive solidity as a platform for the attackers to perform.
McMahon-Brown's early impact offers a fresh option in attack as Shrewsbury seeks greater consistency. The young forward, who aims to surpass a personal goals target by season's end, will be looking to feature again when the squad travels to Gresty Road to face Crewe Alexandra. He concluded by reiterating his focus on continuous improvement and helping the team climb the table.
This story first appeared at Shropshire Star
