Reuben Hazell poised for action against Wolves

Experienced defender Reuben Hazell is set to launch his challenge for a Shrewsbury Town starting shirt by making his first pre-season appearance tomorrow night.

The 33-year-old has been forced to sit out Town's three pre-season games so far with a calf problem.

But he is pencilled in to play some part in tomorrow's final home warm-up game against Wolves.

"Reuben trained with the squad for the first time on Friday and he should be fit for part of the game," said boss Graham Turner today.

"I would want to give him 15 or 20 minutes at least, maybe longer."

Hazell will be desperate to catch the eye after making only eight starts in his first season at the Greenhous Meadow because of a serious knee injury suffered in the home clash with Torquay in September.

Matt Richards, who captained Town in Saturday's impressive 2-0 victory over Championship side Leicester, is a doubt with a groin problem.

But Turner is hopeful all the minor injury issues will have cleared up well before the Capital One Cup trip to Leeds on Saturday week.

"There are one or two little niggles but through this week and next I would expect them all to recover and be nice and bright for going to Elland Road," he added. Meanwhile, Turner was pleased with his side's display in Saturday's triumph which saw Terry Gornell and Marvin Morgan find the net.

"We scored at good times and that gave us the confidence to work it out from the back, pass the ball and play the sort of football we want to play," he added.

"We had some good individual performances. A lot of good aspects came out of the game and the players applied themselves well to it.

"In the main we contained Leicester well and always looked dangerous.

"It was encouraging – but that's all. It's a pre-season game but there were a lot of positives and it was encouraging for the forthcoming season."

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