Abu Ogogo preparing hard for Shrewsbury's Wembley trip
Shrewsbury Town will ensure suspended captain Abu Ogogo trains hard to be ready for a Wembley comeback.
Ogogo heads into the third of his four-game League One suspension today as Paul Hurst’s side welcome Oxford United. He will be available for Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy final before missing the following league game at Bradford on Thursday week.
The central midfielder was dismissed for an altercation with John-Joe O’Toole at Northampton and has subsequently missed the 1-0 victory against AFC Wimbledon and Good Friday’s 3-1 reversal at Rochdale.
The suspension proved problematic for Hurst, who lost fellow central midfielders Ben Godfrey to a hamstring injury and Bryn Morris to a one-game ban.
“He was in the dressing room against Wimbledon and it was nice to win that first game without him,” said Hurst.
“But he’s there and desperate for the players to continue with the form they’ve shown for the majority of the season. In training he’s spot-on, just the same. It’s looking as though he’s training like he would as if he’s got the game.
“Of course, he has a big part to play. Sads (Mat Sadler) is the obvious one in getting around the players and organising things but Abs does speak to the players probably more than I initially realised.”
Godfrey returned from a hamstring injury to play 90 minutes at Rochdale while Morris is available after serving his ban.
Third-placed Town hope Alex Rodman (back) is available today after missing the Dale clash.
Skipper Ogogo is able to play in Sunday’s clash against Lincoln as his ban only applies to the league.
“He is a leader,” Hurst added. “We’d like him on the pitch. He’s been running, we’re staying on top of him because ultimately he’s back for a game (at Wembley) and he needs to be as close to his best physically without being able to play (in the league).
“He’s an infectious character. He makes us all laugh and smile and still a very big part of it, in a similar vein to Junior Brown, who is getting out on the grass and doing the warm-ups.”
Shrewsbury season ticket holders can bring a friend for £5 to today’s Montgomery Waters Meadow clash with Oxford, while emergency service workers in the police, fire services, ambulance and NHS get 50 per cent off match tickets.
