Defender Kelvin Langmead today warned buoyant Shrewsbury Town to beware the return of on-song Michael Symes as Accrington Stanley head to the Prostar Stadium tomorrow.

Symes, who was allowed to leave Town at the end of last season, has scored 14 times for Accrington this term and is reported to have attracted big money bids from Grimsby and interest from Preston.

And Langmead, a former team-mate of the ex-Everton trainee, is aware of the threat the forward will bring.

“I played and trained with Symsey for a few years so I know what he’s all about,” said Langmead.

“He is similar to Paul Benson (Dagenham striker) in a lot of ways – he has got an eye for goal and is good in the air.

“On his day, he is a very good player and Accrington have become a well established side in League Two now.

“They have improved year on year and their biggest improvement has come this season. They have had some great results recently like beating Notts County and they are certainly not the easy ride some people might have thought.”

Tomorrow’s game – which would see Dave Hibbert become the first Shrewsbury player ever to score in six successive League games should he find the net – pits together two of the division’s form sides.

Shrewsbury will be defending a five-match unbeaten run, while the visitors have taken 15 points from the last available 18 and pushed Premier League Fulham all the way in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

But manager Paul Simpson is keen for Town to maintain the pressure on their promotion rivals.

“Other teams around us do have games in hand but we just have to take care of our own business,” he said.

Midfielder Craig Disley has been declared fit, but Simpson will back a late decision on Dean Holden who continues to recover from a hamstring problem. Skipper Graham Coughlan is a definite absentee.

Town are hoping a discount of up to 35 per cent on tickets will produce a crowd in excess of 5,000.

By JAMES GARRISON