Shrewsbury Town to make late call on Shuan Whalley ahead of FA Cup clash
Shrewsbury hope winger Shaun Whalley will return to the fold tonight after the attacker came through a light training session.
The 29-year-old has had no first-team involvement since netting a 98th minute goal to seal Town's 2-0 victory over Oxford on November 12.
Whalley is admired by boss Paul Hurst and is one of the few in Shrewsbury's squad to be blessed with searing pace.
His month-long absence with a thigh problem followed up a return from groin trouble, with the former Southport man making just 10 appearances – and just five starts – this campaign. Hurst's assistant Chris Doig confirmed that the club will assess Whalley's recovery from partaking in light training yesterday as they travel to Fleetwood for tonight's FA Cup second-round replay.
He said: "Shaun trained Monday morning, only part of the training session but it was nice to get him back on the pitch.
"We'll give him 24 hours to see how he recoveries for it to check for any niggles or sore bits after it.
"He got through the small part that he did which is encouraging but again we'll see how he is today and how he gets over it."
While Whalley looks set for an imminent first-team return, defender Ryan McGivern will face a spell on the sidelines after coming off with a shoulder problem during Saturday's success at Millwall.
The Northern Ireland international has been featuring in an unorthodox left-back position since returning to Hurst's first team in recent weeks.
The summer arrival from Port Vale, a left-footed centre-half by trade, has adequately filled in at left-back with Mat Sadler shining in the heart of defence.
But McGivern, who has 17 appearances this season, may have to undergo surgery as the club await news on a ligament injury.
"Ryan's had X-rays that will be sent off to a specialist," Doig added.
"They're debating whether it's a case of rest or an operation.
"He's ruptured ligaments in his shoulder, it might be a case of letting it settle for three of four weeks but if they decide an operation's best then you're talking months.
"It's up in the air at the minute, we'll see how it settles down."
Forward AJ Leitch-Smith is still plagued by a knee injury that will keep him out of tonight's showdown – a third meeting with Fleetwood in less than a month.
Loanee Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has not been granted permission to play by parent club Chesterfield.
