Shrewsbury Town’s most creative spark could miss the side’s bid to halt the losing stretch which is threatening to undermine the start of the season.

Marc Pugh has emerged as a major doubt for the visit of high-flying Chesterfield on Saturday as he continues to battle against a hamstring problem.

The 20-year-old has been hampered by the injury for the last fortnight.

But it only come to the fore on Sunday when the tricky winger was restricted to an appearance as a half-time substitute in the local derby with Chester – and then lasted only 30 minutes before feeling the effects of his injury once again.

Pugh will be anxious not to miss any of the action having caught the eye in many of Town’s home games.

“Marc likes to get past people and when you play like that, you have to be 100 per cent right,” said manager Gary Peters, who remains hopeful Pugh will be fit for next week’s trip to his former club Bury should he miss the visit of Chesterfield.

Full-back Marc Tierney also continues to be troubled by his ankle injury and remains far from certain to make a return this weekend after missing the trip to the Deva Stadium.

Temptation

But the fact the injuries to both Tierney and Pugh are seen as short-term problems is likely to ensure Peters resists the temptation to enter the loan market.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury are likely to have to play a waiting game before welcoming back their two remaining long-term casualties, Ben Davies and Andy Cooke, into full training.

Both were initially ruled out until at least December, but hopes had been raised that a quicker than scheduled return was on the cards.

That now appears to be evaporating with estimates of a return now closer to the original comeback date.

“Cookey went for a scan last week and he has now got to wait just under a month before he goes back for another one because the tear hasn’t healed enough yet,” added Peters.

“Ben is in a similar boat because he still needs to build the strength up in his leg, so they are both a fair way off yet.”

Shrewsbury’s home reserves clash with Wolves next Monday has been moved to a 2pm kick-off.