Shrewsbury Town: James Wesolowski relishes Leicester tie

James Wesolowski says he sports a Mohican haircut to intimidate the opposition

Shrewsbury midfielder James Wesolowski says he wants to show his old club Leicester "what they missed out on" when the sides meet in the League Cup.

Shrewsbury, still unbeaten in five matches this season, face the Foxes in Tuesday night's second round tie.

After coming through Leicester's academy, Wesolwoski was let go in 2010.

"There's no thoughts of revenge in my mind. But it does give you that little bit of extra incentive," the 27-year-old told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"It's knowing that they did release you and you want to show them what they missed out on.

"There's no point to prove. You can't do that in one game. That's the thing you judge at the end of your career.

"But they taught me my trade. I came though the Academy there and they gave me my chance in football when I first came over from Australia.

"I have some great memories of my days at Leicester. But I broke my leg twice in one season, so I have some bad memories too.

"And, at the end of the day, Tuesday night is simply the chance to prove yourself against Premier League opposition."

City boss Nigel Pearson was the man who chose to release Australian Wesolowski four summers ago - just four weeks before walking out on the Foxes to join Hull City.

Pearson only stayed 16 months at Hull before returning to join Leicester in November 2011. And, as Wesolowski prepares to meet up with his old boss again, it is clear that the combative man from Sydney harbours no grudges.

Nigel Pearson tackles Kevin Keegan in a 2-1 Division Two win for Shrewsbury Town at home to Newcastle United, Gay Meadow, September 1982

"Even though he released me, I still think Nigel Pearson's a very good manager," added Wesolowski, one of 16 summer signings made by new manager Micky Mellon in relegated Shrewsbury's massive summer overhaul. "He knew what he was doing."

For Pearson, himself there is also a long overdue reunion with the club he represented for six seasons from 1981 to 1987 back in Town's old Division Two days.

After being signed by Graham Turner from non-league Heanor Town, the big centre-half made his Football League debut in a Shrewsbury shirt before making top-flight moves first to Sheffield Wednesday, then Middlesbrough.

But Town boss Mellon is not expecting any sentiment to cloud Pearson's judgement.

"I know Nigel Pearson started his playing career at Shrewsbury some years ago," Mellon told BBC Radio Shropshire. "But I'm sure he won't be doing us any favours.

"He's a competitive guy, and he'll be wanting to win the match, just the same as we will."

To add a further ironic twist, Pearson's son James has been earmarked to make his debut for the Foxes in Tuesday night's game.

But one player who will not figure is Town winger Ashley Vincent, who has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Northampton.