Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers preview: New boy in line for first start for key run

After two substitute appearances Wheeler, who teamed up with boss Ainsworth for a second time after a long stint at Wycombe, is looking for a first Shrewsbury start and it could come against fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers at the Meadow tonight.

His influence could hardly come at a better side for Ainsworth's basement boys as they look to find a way back from four consecutive defeats with games running out.

Town are eight points adrift of safety and tonight's visitors Rovers, who occupy the final safety position in League One. Ainsworth's side then tackle Exeter away, who are one place and point better off than the Gas before a clash against Burton, one place inside the drop zone.

Shrewsbury need a pick-me-up following four defeats on the spin and Ainsworth is confident new signing Wheeler can make an impact.

"Yes, there is a chance," Ainsworth said when asked if Wheeler was close to a start. "He has only been here just over a week. I think pushing him too hard would be a mistake.

"People don’t see behind the scenes in training and when we train and some of the DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) affects and some of the stiffness that comes in.

"Hopefully Wheels will make the impact that I think he can very soon."

Shrewsbury are awaiting clarity from the Football Association over whether either defender Aaron Pierre or Mal Benning could face a two-match suspension.

The club were left unsure whether either were branded with a yellow card in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Peterborough. Pierre and Benning are both on nine cautions for the season and a 10th would result in a two-game ban.

They would join suspended captain John Marquis on the sidelines. The striker is set to miss at least three-games with his record-equalling red card against the Posh on Saturday. Marquis' stray elbow straight from kick-off was the joint-quickest dismissal in Football League history in 13 seconds.

Ainsworth did hint the club were considering an appeal against Marquis' ban. Any appeals considered frivolous by the governing body can see the player hit with an extra match to the suspension.

We will probably have to shuffle the team up for Bristol and then Exeter," added the Town head coach. 

"We have David Wheeler who is a big Exeter legend, Nurse is a Bristol boy. So we have a couple of ironic stories that could happen.

"John is a prolific goalscorer, he has over 160 goals in his career and that’s prolific in anyone’s book and we missed him when he was dismissed.

"He is gutted but unless we can get it overturned, we will have to see, but it will open up the opportunity for someone else."

Like their hosts, the Gas are struggling and arrive in Shropshire on a run of three straight defeats, the latest of which was a last-gasp 3-2 home reverse to Rotherham on Saturday.

Rovers appointed Spanish former Brighton youth Inigo Calderon on Boxing Day. Former boss Matt Taylor, the namesake of the former Town chief, was dismissed earlier in December.