Paul Simpson is seeking some home comforts as Shrewsbury Town finally return to the Prostar Stadium after a run of three away games to take on in-form Gillingham on Saturday.
Having clocked up nearly 800 miles inside a week, manager Simpson welcomes being back on home soil and is looking for a positive response from his players after they suffered their first League Two defeat of the season at Morecambe last weekend.
“It seems a long time since we had a home game so it will be good to get back out on our home pitch and hopefully get ourselves started on another run of positive results,” said Simpson, who revealed he’s on the lookout for potential reinforcements to bolster his injury-hit squad.
“We spoke about what happened at Morecambe on Saturday and different things at training on Monday but that’s gone now.
“We never for one minute thought we would go through the whole season unbeaten or not concede goals. It’s par for the course that that was going to happen.
“It’s just unfortunate that when you have a little bit of a run of being unbeaten, it’s a big disappointment when you do lose. We’ve just got to get it out of the way now, deal with it and get ready for the next one.
“If you look over the whole season and say you can take on average two points a game, the chances are you’ll get promoted.
“We’re satisfied with 10 points so far but there are only five gone and we’ve got to make sure that for the next 41 we approach them all properly. Saturday is another big game and it’s the start of the next run of them for us.”
Simpson said he was not surprised to see Gillingham, who were relegated from League One last season, going well and he knows the Kent club, who have won three games in a row, will provide his side with a stern examination.
“They’re a good side, a strong, physical side so it will be a real test for us,” he said. “If we approach it the way we have done for the majority of games we’ll be okay.
“It’s one of those games where we’re going to have to be right. Hopefully the players will have had the shot in the arm that they maybe needed last weekend and will respond properly.”
Simpson expects striker Dave Hibbert to be available despite breaking his nose in training earlier this week.
There’s also encouraging news on Michael Symes with his knee injury not as bad as feared. “We believe there’s just soft tissue damage around the knee so we’re talking probably days rather than weeks,” said Simpson, who still rates the ex-Everton man as a “major doubt” for Saturday.
Simpson hopes Richard Walker will be able to join in full training again later this week, midfielder Paul Murray is making steady progress from his Achilles injury but David Hunt continues to cause concern.
“It’s very slow with David so it’s disappointing for him more than anything,” he said. “The injury he picked up is one none of the specialists have seen in their whole careers.
“To rupture a lateral ligament in isolation is strange and we’re having to see just how he goes and unfortunately we can’t put a time scale on it.”
Simpson added the club’s injury problems had led to him having to consider dipping into the transfer market once again.
“We’re having a look round to see whether there’s anyone available who might be able to come in and help us do a job, but at the moment it’s just very slow,” he said.
• See page 87 of the Shrewsbury Chronicle, on sale now, for more news from the Prostar Stadium including a report of this week’s England under-19 international.
