Jack Price: Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst cautious over playing midfielder too soon

Jack Price watched Shrewsbury Town in action before completing his move

Shrewsbury Town will have to be "cautious" over how they use new signing Jack Price but are hoping he will prove an excellent piece of business, says boss Paul Hurst.

Former Wolves midfielder Price signed a deal until the end of the season with Town on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old has been at the club for the last few months, working his way back to fitness after injury.

"Thankfully, we got to that point where we got a deal done," Hurst said.

Having been released by Major Soccer League side the Colorado Rapids in October, Price has been trying to prove his fitness at Shrewsbury after a long absence from the game due an Achilles tendon injury.

After saying earlier in the week that it was "too early" to finalise any deal for Price, Hurst is glad the short-term contract has been agreed having been impressed by what he's seen of the player in training.

"The quality that he's shown already... and his character certainly comes across and I think that could be key for us," Hurst told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"Hopefully, we can get him involved. I think we have to acknowledge that he's been out a long time and be cautious how we use him

"But, at the same time, we can't sign him and think 'oh we'll wait until the last game of the season and have a kick around'.

"So it's down to us and Jack, to a degree, to let us know how he's feeling, as to how much football we can get out of him."

Price played 115 times for Wolves, mostly in the Championship and clocked up more than 100 appearances in his five years for the Rapids in the MLS.

Hurst says his pedigree is obvious to see.

"He's very good on the ball - that stood out straight away from the moment he hit the football. How he passes the ball, you can see he's technically very, very good and hopefully he can bring that to the team.

"The injuries have obviously set him back but if he can come through that which, at the minute, touch wood, he's showing, we could have an extremely good player on our hands."

Shrewsbury, 17th in League One, are at home to Carlisle on Saturday.