Shrewsbury v Everton u21s: EFL Trophy group finale sees Salop on the brink

Gavin Cowan’s men remain pointless from their first two fixtures in the competition, defeats at Tranmere and at home to Stockport County.

The Town boss has clearly prioritised League Two matters over the Trophy, which is often a competition where bosses look to rotate their squad and offer opportunities to more fringe players.

Cowan does not have a huge squad to operate with at the moment. That is underlined by just a single enforced substitute during the last two games against Crawley and Rotherham, where the stricken George Lloyd was replaced by Michael Golding in the latter due to a head injury.

Suspensions to Isaac Fletcher, Jay Turner-Cooke and Saturday’s for Kian McMahon-Brown have meant options are thin on the ground.

All three are available to face Everton’s youngsters, however, for whom former Shrewsbury centre-back David Hughes will be in the away dugout having joined the Toffees ranks in the summer.

EFL Trophy fixtures are not included in suspensions for players dismissed in league games.

That eases Cowan’s options somewhat and the boss may be inclined to involve all three - particularly Fletcher and Turner-Cooke, who have served two of their three-match bans but will still miss Saturday’s crunch home league clash against Gareth Ainsworth’s Gillingham.

An appeal decision on McMahon-Brown’s controversial red card on Saturday is still to be confirmed.

Previous Trophy ties have seen action for back-up goalkeeper Cameron Gregory and youth teamers Oliver Hall, Will Gray, Isaac England - now on loan at AFC Telford United - Hugo Aiston and Jeval Thompson-McKenzie.

It has also been a competition where squad players such as Isaac Lee, Lino Sousa and Joe Gbode have had exposure.

Shrewsbury are bottom of the pile in their group and only a win over the Toffees youngsters will give them a chance to finish in second.

Stockport lead the way with six points, with Tranmere second on three. But both Rovers and Everton have played just one fixture and will not complete their group action until the middle of next month.

Cowan will not see the final group clash as a priority over Saturday’s Croud Meadow face-off with Gills, but the Town boss will want to continue recent momentum and confidence.

Everton under-21s’ only tie in the competition so far was a chaotic affair at Stockport’s Edgeley Park, which ended 6-3 to the hosts.

Former centre-back Hughes was an impressive defender for Town before a £450,000 sale to Cardiff in 2001. The Welshman worked as Shrewsbury’s head of youth development for two years after hanging up his boots.

He worked as a coach under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United for three years before a head coach role at Newport County, which lasted just six months and ended after a 1-0 defeat to Salop at Rodney Parade last November.

Cowan’s troops have goals in their last two games - but have shipped five.

"We've been creating chances all season - we are a team that creates chances,” the boss said.

"I'm also a manager that prides myself on not conceding goals.

"That's also five. I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It's important to score goals.

"On those two really long journeys we've managed to pick up four points, that's seven out of nine.

"We're a really competitive team and we've got more in us.”