Shrewsbury striker Jake Robinson says the shock of being left out and the form of 14-goal Dave Hibbert motivated his return to the starting line-up.He told BBC Radio Shropshire: "Hibbo had hard times with injury, but he's overcome them and been an inspiration.
"And the kick in the gut of not even being in the squad over Christmas was when I realised things had to change.
"I knew I had to prove the manager [Paul Simpson] wrong and show him I was a good signing."
Simpson brought Robinson back in for Saturday's 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge and the summer signing from Brighton looked sharp throughout.
"It was a big shock to be left out before, as there hadn't been any clues - but it was what I needed," Robinson added.
Football should always be the first thing on my mind, and probably at times in the last few months it hasn't been
Shrewsbury striker Jake Robinson
"I'd probably lost my focus a little bit, my mind wasn't where it should've been.
"It was a little bit harder to adjust to life in Shropshire than I thought it would be. I settled well at first, but after a while you miss your family and friends.
"But football should always be the first thing on my mind, and probably at times in the last few months it hasn't been - but I've got that sorted now and I'm 100% committed."
Robinson, 23, was Brighton's youngest ever scorer - aged 16 - in 2003. He went on to make over 120 appearances for the League One club.
He also spent part of last season on loan at Aldershot, where he made 19 appearances and scored four goals, before joining Shrewsbury on a free transfer last June.
He has been one of a number of partners for the Shrews' leading scorer Hibbert this season, and he said: "The shirt's mine now - it's up to me to keep it."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport