Manager Paul Simpson today all but ruled out any 11th hour strengthening of his Shrewsbury Town squad for the promotion run-in.

Clubs have until tomorrow to complete any loan signings to see them through until the end of the season.

But Simpson is happy to put his faith in the existing squad for the final seven games and, potentially, the play-offs.

“I’m not expecting anything to happen. I think that we have got a squad that, when they are all at it, is good enough to get us to where we want to be,” said the Town boss.

“At this stage of the season, it can sometimes be disruptive to bring in a new face.

“It’s a case of trusting the players that we have to get us over the line.”

Simpson also confirmed that he had turned down an attempt from Conference North side Workington to take Steve Hindmarch, who is out of contract at the Prostar Stadium at the end of the season, on loan.

“There was an enquiry from Workington but I wasn’t prepared to let that happen at this stage,” he added.

“He has had a virus which has affected him recently and we are at the stage of the season where we need him around the rest of the squad to get a real good look at him.”

Midfielder Kevin McIntyre is expected to return to training next week after a long standing leg injury, but defender Mike Jackson has suffered a minor setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

He is now pencilled in for a return to training in around a fortnight.

l Town’s promotion hopes received a boost last night when fifth placed Bury were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Rotherham, while Darlington – who still have an outside chance of pushing for the play-offs – were beaten 1-0 at Accrington.

Former Shrewsbury midfielder Jimmy Ryan scored the goal in that game – and he wasn’t the only ex-Town player to get on the scoresheet last night.

In League One, Steve Guinan and Ben Smith were the Hereford scorers in a 2-1 win at Carlisle, while Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was on loan at Shrewsbury this season, netted a penalty for Crewe.

And James Constable, on a season long loan from Shrewsbury to Oxford, made it six goals in his last four games with a brace in their 3-1 Blue Square Premier success at Rushden.