Micy Mellon: Shrewsbury Town will take Trophy tie seriously

The controversial competition begins tonight in its new group stage form, with Salop, Cambridge, Scunthorpe United and Middlesbrough making up the Northern Group G.

The new format change did not go down well with supporters, who were unimpressed with the prospect of travelling to Scunthorpe and Middlesbrough for extra fixtures on a midweek evening.

But with the prospect of reaching Wembley and the short-term ambition of returning to winning ways after Saturday's 3-2 reversal against Gillingham, Mellon is ready to tackle the competition head-on.

"The EFL Trophy is a competition that we take very seriously and a competition that we want to do very well in," said the Salop chief.

"It's another fixture to give us an opportunity to play at home and we'll be approaching it just like any other game, to do well and win.

"Wembley is the carrot, that's the prize at the end of it. But also so is winning the next game of football so that'll be the most important game for us in the season.

"I'll tell you whether the group stage is good or bad at the end of the season! I think the players would rather play games than train. If you asked them, the majority would say that."

Mellon revealed that, with Town embarking on their eighth fixture of August, he has no qualms with refreshing his squad – hinting at a change of personnel and system.

"It's crazy to have eight games but it's just something that you've got to get on with," he added.

"It's what makes the English leagues so successful and rewarding.

"Squad rotation are two words frowned upon in England, but I personally see the sense in it, as long as you're not being reckless."

Town will assess the fitness of winger Jim O'Brien (groin) but Ryan McGivern is away with the Northern Ireland squad.