NATHANIEL Knight-Percival is grateful for Shrewsbury for helping him fight back from serious injury – but insists there will be no favours on Saturday.

The City centre half comes up against his old club for the first time since leaving Shropshire in the summer.

Knight-Percival (pictured) played 77 times for the Shrews, despite missing four months of his first season with a knee injury.

He said: “I had a great time there getting promoted to League One.

“Unfortunately it was also when I did my cruciate ligament injury. But these things happen.

“I was under a great physio (Chris Skitt) to get back to full fitness and I thank him for that.

“But it will be just another game for me. I’ll chat to everyone at the end but during the 90 minutes, it will be strictly professional.”

Knight-Percival skippered Shrewsbury as they beat the drop in their first year back in League One. He is hopeful they can establish themselves in the third tier despite manager Micky Mellon’s departure today.

He added: “A few years before it was a bit up and down between League One and League Two.

“To have the consistency to stay up for another season was probably a big bonus for the club.

“I’d hope they can stabilise at this level now. I look out for my former club and people I still know, so I’d like to think they’ll be able to stay in League One and push on from there.”

Shrewsbury sit only one point above bottom club Oldham but have drawn their last three games 1-1.

Mellon, who was in his third year at the helm, has been under increasing pressure and quit suddenly. He is poised to take over at National League Tranmere. Assistant Mike Jackson has also left the Shrews.

Goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne is set to take charge at Valley Parade while Shrewsbury consider a permanent successor.