Boss Paul Simpson believes a fully fit Shrewsbury Town would be more than a match for almost anyone in League Two.

The confident Town boss is convinced his squad is one of the most talented in the division – and capable of finishing in the automatic promotion places.

They went into today’s game at home to Port Vale having won five of their last seven – including a run of four in a row – despite a lengthy injury list.

And Simpson insists they must prove they can maintain those standards over the next seven months.

“If we can get everybody fit then I think we’ve got enough to be able to compete in the top two or three,” he declared.

“What I couldn’t have predicted would be the number of injuries we would already have had, even this early in the season.

“I’m not saying we are definitely going to get promoted – but what I would say is that if all our players are fit and playing to their full capability, then I believe we’re one of the top sides in the league.

“Talk is cheap, though – now we have to go out and show it.”

Simpson also admits he is fed up with constant claims that Shrewsbury are one of the division’s big spenders.

Such comments were commonplace last season following Grant Holt’s £170,000 move to the Prostar Stadium.

But the club’s summer business was distinctly more low key, and the high-profile investment at Notts County has stolen the limelight.

“I hear people say we’ve got one of the biggest budgets in League Two, and that may be true, but there are a few clubs in this league spending more than us who get away without the criticism,” he added.

“The players laugh about it whenever we see those sort of comments, and at least Notts County have taken the focus off us now.

“Everyone talks about them now, and hopefully we can sneak in under the radar.”

By CHRIS HUDSON