Abu Ogogo back in training for Shrewsbury

Ogogo has missed the last three games after limping off during the 7-1 defeat at Chesterfield with a hamstring injury.

But the Londoner has responded well to treatment and is expected to be back in contention.

It comes ahead of schedule, as preparations step up for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

Mellon said: "He's going to start training today so that will be great for us going into this batch of games to have him available again.

"If you see the way we're rebuilding the team, we've very much built it on not getting over-run in midfield any more.

"We have players in there who can run, fight and play, and we've got a whole mixture of different types of midfielders we believe we need. Ogogo is certainly a massive part of that."

Since Ogogo was injured, Richie Wellens and James Wallace have been added to the midfield and Mellon believes his middle men have the quality of the level above.

He said: "I told them before the Burton game we've got a Championship midfield, so there was no reason why they couldn't dominate the game.

"Ian Black hasn't played in there, but he's played at international level and in the Scottish Premier League.

"Larnell Cole is from Fulham, Richie Wellens pretty much has the T-shirt for the Championship and James Wallace is as good as you'll get and has played for Tranmere and Sheffield United.

"They're all at that level – Abu himself was schooled at Arsenal – and there's a lot of talent in there."

Wellens is cup-tied this weekend when Wallace is available, but Mellon is guarded on Ogogo's chances of walking straight back into the team.

He said: "It will depend on the job we feel needs to be done. We've used him in a range of roles and, if we think he's best at a role we want, we'll put him in."