Carl Winchester has no hard feelings about heading to Shrewsbury Town on loan with the Northern Ireland international hopeful of more game time. The former Forest Green Rovers captain has found game time hard to come by following the club's promotion back to the second tier.
The 29-year-old admitted it was the last role of the dice for him to play on the Championship following the League One play-off final win, a moment that he missed due to injury. The Belfast born utility player was not one to shy away from the pressure during his time on Wearside, but with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2023, it appears as though his time with the club has come to an end.
Speaking to Shrewsbury Town's official website, he said: "It was unbelievable. If you’d have told me when I was at Forest Green that I would go to Sunderland and be part of a promotion-winning team I wouldn’t have believed you.
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“It was something special. That club is amazing, the fans are incredible and it takes a type of player to go up there and play for them.
“You have to wear your heart on your sleeve and give everything because those fans give everything for that club. They deserve to be in the Championship and even higher because the potential of that club is phenomenal.”
Speaking after joining Shrewsbury Town on loan, Winchester said: “I’m delighted to be here. I spoke to a couple of the lads yesterday and they had nothing but good things to say about the club.
“It was the end of the transfer window, I had a couple of conversations with the gaffer. He was keen to bring me here which was a real positive for me.
“At this stage in my career I just want to be playing games. I want to say thanks to Sunderland because they are a brilliant club, an outstanding club, a massive club but I just want to play games.
“The manager has watched me at Cheltenham, Forest Green and Sunderland – he's watched me throughout my career and I’ve heard nothing but good things about him.”
Winchester will now link up with former Black Cats Tom Flanagan and Aiden O'Brien at the Montgomery Waters' Stadium.
“Speaking to Flanno (Flanagan) and Briz (O’Brien) – they had nothing but good things to say about the club and I thought ‘yeah I’ll have a bit of that,' he said. “I’ve played with Taylor Moore as well during my time at Cheltenham.
"He came on loan from Bristol City. He dropped me a message as well yesterday, he’s a great lad.”
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