Will Gray is a recently turned 17-year-old right-footed central midfielder and Shrewsbury Town academy scholar who made his senior league debut this season. He made his first league start vs Oldham in April as one of the midfield double pivots in Shrewsbury Town’s 3-4-1-2 formation.

Gray has a small and slight frame, standing around 5’7″ with shorter legs and slightly broad shoulders. He already displays a strong acceleration over the first few yards, but begins to fade over longer distances. He doesn’t yet have the physical conditioning to continuously make high intensity runs and has been substituted in all 4 of his starts. But for someone of his age, he already shows a work ethic that points towards building on his physicality, becoming stronger, and making the most of his smaller frame. Gray’s strongest attributes are technical, completing several difficult first touches both on short reaction and dropping balls, cushioning even on the stretch, then able to release a pass quickly. Similarly, he’s capable of bringing the ball in with one foot before playing a short flick or pass with the other, speeding up the play and catching pressing midfielders unaware with the speed and level of disguise of his touches, a clear strength in small spaces. To make up for his slight frame, Gray is quick to get his body/shoulder across to fend off a tackle or spin to use his body/back as a shield to protect the ball or block a man, shifting away or winning fouls, which points towards an ability to play at a higher standard. He is not the most powerful or explosive, but the maturity in how he uses his frame, ability to create enough separation to play the ball quickly, ball carrying over shorter distances, and winning fouls goes some way to make up for the physical issues mentioned.

In possession, Gray is more of a connector, linking with disguised and well-timed short flicks/first time layoffs, dropping deeper with a side on body position that allows the angle to play the ‘bounce’ pass due to the timing of his arrival, scanning frequently with speed of play to find the spare man, and starting transition-type chances around the opposition press. He currently refrains from playing long or aerially. He wants to link, play short combinations, go into loose ball/ground duels with the intention of playing a pass, often coming out the winner, starting transitions when many would look to clear the ball, again showing a maturity and possession mindset with a controlled level of aggression. He can play short/medium ground passes through the lines and weight passes well up the line to runners or medium distance ground switches to the wing-back on the far side. Despite a smaller frame, he is often able to retain balance and quickly play accurately after/during physical contact when not initially winning a foul. He is currently poor in aerial contests, lacking jump reach and intent to do more than push the opposition man. Gray has a good sense of movement and spatial awareness due to an excellent scanning level, dropping to drag his man, creating space behind the opposition midfield, and making small adjustments to be in an optimum position to receive. He can improve the speed of these movements when deeper. He also shows strong timing and reaction with his forward runs, more with creative intent, arriving to the right side of the box, behind higher opposition defenders to either drag a man or be in a position to pass rather than provide goal threat himself.

Out of possession, he continues to scan well in a low block, screening passes inside, albeit inconsistently. He is a diligent marker, but currently lacks the reading of play at first team level to consistently time tackles/make interceptions and the power to track runs over a distance. He can currently lose concentration, as his scan level drops and space can be attacked in his shadow. His reactions are slightly off defensively, with attackers able to get goal side. There are also inconsistencies with his defensive positioning, not always the quickest to get across, albeit in a Shrewsbury two-man midfield that can be stretched, or being dragged too wide when man-marking. Encouragingly, across his 4 consecutive starts, he began to show less naivety in stepping towards the ball, leaving space, and instead retained his position. Showing more defensive understanding, but still a current need for a deeper midfield partner next to him.

Overall, Gray showed a near effortless transition into first team football due to technical ability with his first touch, speed of play in possession, short combination work, scanning frequency, composure, and maturity already which point to a strong future. Making 4 consecutive starts for the first team at his age, even at the end of a season, is a strong marker of what he can offer Shrewsbury Town next season, and points towards a future further up the EFL Pyramid, with potential to reach the top end of League One or Championship. How high he goes will depend on how much he can get physically out of himself and his ability to cope with having a size disadvantage. For now, League Two is a perfect spot for his development next season, and he’s definitely one to keep an eye on.