Shrewsbury Town’s chronic injury list will ease further next week when two long-term absentees return from lengthy lay-offs.

Midfield pair Craig Disley and Terry Dunfield are both pencilled in to return to training on Monday.

Disley has not played a first-team game since the victory at Accrington at the end of August because of two knee injuries – the second of which was sustained during a reserve team comeback.

And Dunfield has also missed the last two months after dislocating his shoulder in a training ground accident.

Their return for the League Two club comes as a welcome boost and follows on from Dave Hibbert, Jake Robinson and Omar Riza all overcoming injury problems to be in contention for today’s key game at Notts County.

Swine flu

And it means the lengthy list of players in the treatment room – which numbered 10 just a fortnight ago – now has only goalkeeper Glyn Garner and defender Mike Jackson on it.

Manager Paul Simpson, meanwhile, has revealed Town have had next to no disruption because of swine flu.

Lancashire Premiership rivals Bolton and Blackburn have disclosed this week that players and staff have been struck down by the virus.

But Simpson said: “The only thing we had was about a month ago where family members of one or two of the players had the symptoms of swine flu.

“We kept them in isolation for a day or so and then there wasn’t a problem. Hopefully it will stay like that.”

l Town’s youngsters will hit the FA Youth Cup trail on Monday when they entertain Port Vale. The first round tie kicks off at 7pm, admission £3 for adults.