Paul Hurst hopes for Shrewsbury Town refresher boost

Town returned to training yesterday after a stint away from their Sundorne Castle base, with Hurst keen for his players to mentally recharge from the ‘grind’ of a long season.

League Two Yeovil attempt their second trip to Montgomery Waters Meadow, this time hoping that the last-four clash – with a Wembley prize just 90 minutes away – will go ahead after last week’s fixture was postponed.

Snowy conditions meant Shrewsbury have been unable to train at Sundorne and, with last Saturday’s League One visit of Peterborough also off, the boss decided a five-day break would be more beneficial than extra gym work.

“In the end we took the decision to have a little mini-break. I don’t think many have jetted off to warmer climates!” Hurst said.

“Some people might be thinking ‘what are we talking about, they play football?’ But trust me there’s much more to it than that.

“Ultimately we find ourselves in a position that we could only have dreamed of and there is demands that it brings.

“It does become a long, hard season. It can become a grind at times, even when things have gone well.”

Tonight’s winners face Lincoln City in the final at Wembley on Sunday, April 8. Hurst has maintained since the start that Town were aiming to win the competition.

James Bolton (ankle) is sidelined for tonight’s tie, where about 200 Yeovil fans are expected to make the journey, while January arrivals Sam Jones and Luke Hendrie are cup-tied.

“I don’t think it hurts anyone to have a little break and hopefully refocus,” the boss added.

“That was very much the message to them last week. Then they were left alone and yesterday we stressed the importance of the next couple of months.”