Fitness battle for International Shrewsbury Town duo
Aaron Pierre and MatijaSarkic will only be permitted to leave for international duty this month if they can prove their fitness to Shrewsbury Town.
Grenada have enquired about the availability of their captain Pierre – who has been sidelined for more than a month with a calf injury – ahead of the Caribbean World Cup 2022 qualifiers at the end of March.
On-loan Wolves goalkeeper Sarkic, meanwhile, has been included in the Montenegro squad for their World Cup qualifiers but the shot-stopper will only get the chance to add to his one cap if he can overcome a niggling quad problem that ruled him out of Town’s win at Rochdale on Tuesday and possibly the trip to Charlton today.
Pierre is determined to get himself ready for Town’s run-in before thoughts on jetting to the Caribbean.
“When I spoke to Aaron he was very clear that he was aware there had been an enquiry for him but he said straight away that he wanted to be right for Shrewsbury,” said Town stand-in boss Aaron Wilbraham. “He wanted to make sure he was fit and he wouldn’t be going there if that wasn’t the case.
“I know when I spoke to Aaron a week ago he said he wouldn’t be going because he wouldn’t be fit enough. I think he’d already spoken with the people involved.
“Aaron’s been outside running and getting back fit, which is good.
“When you start seeing players outside, and I think Donald’s been on a little run today, it’s good when you see them appearing back on the grass outside and out of the gym and away from physios.
“It’s better for the team because that competition steps up again, it’s always good to have a healthy squad.
“I think that may be too soon (training next week), I’m not sure, I haven’t had an update but I don’t think he was due back training.”
Wilbraham said of Sarkic: “Mati would have to be fit to go away, we wouldn’t want to send an injured goalkeeper away on international duty, because that wouldn’t be good for us.”
“But we’ll see how he is nearer the time and make a decision.”
Sarkic’s Montenegro are in action three times between March 24 and March 30, meaning the keeper would miss – at least – games at Burton (March 23) and against Portsmouth (March 27).
Spice Boyz Grenada head to El Salvador on March 26 and host US Virgin Islands on March 31.
