Former Lincoln City midfielder Sam Clucas has addressed claims he is ‘past it’ and injury-prone after starting every game for Shrewsbury Town this season.
Clucas joined Salop in the summer after his contract expired at the Bank, committing to a two-year deal and immediately becoming a key figure at the Meadow. At 35, he has started every League Two fixture so far this season, delivering six assists and two goals and showing the intensity that made him a top Premier League player.
Speaking to the Shropshire Star ahead of their Christmas schedule, Clucas suggested his current form would ‘turn some faces’, which may or may not be directed towards LN5.
“I think it will turn some faces around of the doubters who were saying I was injury prone and stuff before,” said the midfielder, who had two spells with the Imps.
“I’ve always put pressure on myself whatever level I’ve played at, even when I was young or old. But particularly now, when you come with a CV that I’ve been fortunate to have, I think a lot of people will be looking at that and thinking, oh, that’s a signing that you should be doing well, should be doing this, should be doing that.
Clucas made eight appearances for the Imps, starting twice and scoring once on his return to Mansfield Town. He was omitted from squads as the season progressed, causing some discussion on social media.
Some viewed his move to Shrewsbury as the end of the line, others as an inspired choice by ex-Imps boss Michael Appleton. It seems the latter is correct, with Clucas asserting this was never just a holiday period for him.
“This is not just a holiday period for me where I come here and just tick off the end of my career. I came here because I want to do well, I want to get promoted, I want to be at the top end of the league. I’ve still got the hunger and desire to do that. So I put pressure on myself to try and do that.
“I always want to prove people wrong. You get to a certain age in football now and people just think you’re done. That’s just a concept that a lot of people have. As soon as you get into your 30s, it’s oh his legs are gone, he can’t do this, can’t do that.
At 35, Sam is doing at Salop what he wasn’t able to do at Lincoln, and proving that point. It’s turned into a good move for the former Swansea City and Stoke man, and his focus will now be on firing 20th-placed Shrewsbury up the League Two table.
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