Shrewsbury Town chief Paul Hurst has no worries with Craig MacGillivray

MacGillivray is braced for a pulsating afternoon at his former side Walsall as Town head to the Banks’s Stadium with first-choice Dean Henderson away on England Under-21 duty.

So the 24-year-old Yorkshireman will play his fourth game in Town colours, after taking the gloves for two Checkatrade Trophy victories and the league victory at Gillingham.

He spent three years with the Saddlers after joining them from non-league Harrogate Town, but moved to Shrewsbury in the summer in search for more first-team football. Manchester United loanee Henderson has caught the eye between the sticks for Town.Hurst said: “Craig will go in the sticks and we hope he can do as well as last time (against Gillingham).

“We’re very pleased with him and, although he won’t want to wait until Dean’s called up, I think it is nice that for him on a personal level there’s always going to be a couple of games he’s going to get.

“And that’s why he has to remain focused, particularly because his chance will come again. Last time he did exceptionally well and hopefully he can do the same again.”

The derby clash will be Hurst’s second since joining Town. He missed the away clash last year, a 3-2 defeat, as goalkeeping coach Danny Coyne was in interim charge just before Hurst’s appointment.

A Stefan Payne header was enough to bag a point in the home fixture last April as Town went in search of League One survival.

The boss added: “Last year when we played them, in truth a lot of the focus wasn’t about who it was, but it was the points we needed.”

“We didn’t get the results against them we wanted so we’ll be looking to go one better this season and see if we can send a good away following back to Shrewsbury very happy.”