Trophy success won't mean first team – but attitude key, insists Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst
Shropshire Senior Cup success won't be an automatic route back into Paul Hurst's first team thoughts – but the Shrewsbury boss still wants a correct attitude.
Hurst is likely to make drastic changes for the shot at silverware at Greenhous Meadow, with a host of fringe first-team squad members and youngsters set to be involved.
And while the Salop chief wants to see the team he selects tackle National League North AFC Telford United in a professional manner, he added that a place in his selection thoughts for Friday night's crunch clash at Port Vale aren't on offer.
On securing involvement in League One fixtures, Hurst said: "Probably not but they can take a step forward.
"If they did well tonight are they going to play on Friday? I'd suggest not with the turnaround.
"It changes our week a little bit, from my point of view there won't be a day off this week at all but I can live with that.
"It'll be nice to get a game for some of the lads tonight and moving to Friday we can look froward to what's a massive game and Port Vale will be boosted from their win (over Swindon)."
The likes of defenders Ryan McGivern and Olly Lancashire could feature after struggling to hold down first-team action in recent weeks.
While goalkeeper Callum Burton, on loan from Greenhous Meadow to Telford, is ineligible to face his parent side.
A low crowd is expected at the Meadow and Hurst warned that a poor display could see them out of the picture with Town. He said "For me, as always, it can go one or two ways.
"You can either play really well and say 'yes, I'm ready if you're going to call on me' or they go out with the wrong attitude, play poorly and then they're never going to get in unless we do get injuries.
"So the lads that do get selected, it is down to them.
"I'd like to think they want to play, no matter the opposition. A few that will play haven't played for a while and you hope people just want to play football – that's what they're paid to do.
"We'll see tonight. A big part is attitude and it'll be mixed with younger lads. It'll be a good opportunity and for me, you want the senior pros to set an example to the younger ones."
