Paul Hurst happy to wait to bring in right men for Shrewsbury

And while the competitive action begins to come thick and fast, head coach Hurst and director of football Micky Moore continue their pursuit in the summer window. Shrewsbury have had to be busy this summer and 11 new recruits will be joined by two more if Hurst can suitably complete his squad – with two ideal targets long since identified. “We’re still working at it, it would be a no before tonight, unless things change, which they can with a phone call,” Hurst said.

“The reality is we’re looking to bring two players in and then after that it would depend on anything happening to our own squad, whether that’s players being unhappy, opportunities arising or just an honest conversation (about a move).

“But the reality is certainly as we sit here now that it’s just two players to come in.”

Town’s most recent signing, Villa loan defender Josh Feeney, injured his hamstring shortly after checking in but the teenager was an example of the club biding their time until the move was green-lighted.

“A couple of players we have in mind have been targets for some time,” Hurst said. “We’ve potentially had to go away from one, then it maybe came back on the table.

“But obviously throughout the course of the off-season you’re working on different targets and maybe you see they’re going to a different club or you are informed they are, or things change at their parent club if it’s a loan.

“You can’t just have a list of one player for a position and we certainly haven’t done that but these two have been on our radar for some time.”

Hurst, meanwhile, confirmed he is hopeful England youth international defender Feeney can return from the muscle lay-off earlier than the four-to-six weeks timeframe estimated.

Feeney injured his hamstring in training and is going through his rehab with Villa.

“I heard two different numbers but I don’t know if that’s to be on the safe side, four-to-six weeks if what I’m hearing,” added the Town boss. “I’m hoping it could be a little sooner in all honesty. The way they measure the scan now is that it’s a bit careful, is my understanding.

“Hopefully it could be sooner, I’m no expect but when he did his work after it, it didn’t seem that bad. Fingers crossed it’s not going to be a long one.”

n Four Town academy youngsters have gone out on loan in non-league. Jack Loughran has joined Whitchurch Alport, Luca Whitney has gone to Stafford Rangers, Jeval Thompson-McKenzie has joined Romulus and Isaac Godwin has gone out to Vauxhall Motors.