Pearson Prepares For Shrews Reunion

Nigel Pearson was an 18-year-old college student when the Shrews plucked him from non-league football to play in the old Second Division in 1981 - part of a youthful recruitment drive that would revitalise the Shropshire club in subsequent seasons. 

Pearson would go on to spend six years at the Shrews' former home, Gay Meadow, before departing to achieve further success in his playing career, firstly with Sheffield Wednesday and then with Middlesbrough. 

Rarely one for sentiment in the build-up to matches as a manager, the City boss could not resist some warm recollections of the formative years of his footballing career, paying tribute to the club that gave him his break in the game. 

"For me to make the move to what would now be a Championship side was a huge step. I learned a lot there," Pearson recalled. 

"I signed in November '81, made my debut the following season and had six good years at Town. It was a time where the club moved a number of older players on, which gave young players like myself an opportunity to make debuts. 

"It's a really good club. Graham Turner was my first manager there and I played alongside some senior players who I learned a lot from. It was a good experience. 

"I went into a club with a coaching culture and learned a lot in a short space of time. If you pick up good habits from those around you, they tend to stick with you." 

Those habits have clearly served Pearson well during a management career that has taken him through each of England's top four divisions, experiences at international level and two promotions with Leicester. 

Those skills are now being put to the test in the Barclays Premier League, which Pearson admits will have an impact on his team selection on Tuesday night. 

But having seen a run to the quarter finals of last season's Capital One Cup have a significant impact on City's league form, the Foxes boss is intent on progressing in a competition he and the club have won four times between them. 

"I make no secret that the Premier League is our priority, as the Championship was last year," he said. 

"Having said that, it's important clubs give every competition the respect it is due and I think the League Cup has always been a competition which is very important. 

"As we showed last year, it was very important for us to help build some momentum before the Christmas period. 

"We used this competition to change things around last season and we were pretty successful with that. With our current injury situation and with what Saturday's game (at Chelsea) took out of us, we need to be careful in certain positions with how we line up, especially in midfield. "

We have options in forward positions and defensively where we can change things." 

Tickets for Tuesday night's visit of Shrewsbury Town remain on sale from the City Fanstore, online at and from the City Sales Centre on 0344 815 5000.