 Returning to Stoke in January 2005, he played one game against Millwall before being sent out on loan again, this time to Football League Two side Shrewsbury Town for the remainder of the season, where he made nine appearances.In the 2005–06 season Wilkinson, made six first-team appearances before suffering ankle ligament damage playing against Southampton in April 2006, which forced him out of action for several months.In the summer of 2006 Wilkinson signed a new two-year contract keeping him at Stoke until 2008.