Shrewsbury Town 2 - 0 Crewe Alexandra

Shrews down to bare bones

Updated: September 11, 2009, 3:04 PM UK

Midfielder Terry Dunfield (shoulder) is sidelined for eight to 10 weeks, defender Mike Jackson (bone bruising) and goalkeeper Glyn Garner (shoulder) are awaiting results from scans before the club know how long they will be out, while striker Omer Riza (ankle) is a long-term absentee.

Goalkeeper Chris Neal (groin) and midfielder Craig Disley (knee) should return to training in the next couple of weeks.

Matters could have been even worse for manager Paul Simpson, who was in the same situation for the 2-1 home defeat to Bradford last weekend, but midfielders Jake Simpson and Joss Labadie have both recovered from head/face injuries.

Striker Kris Bright (ankle) was taken off as a precaution in the 3-0 reserve-team victory at West Brom in midweek and he is okay to feature.

Jake Robinson grabbed a brace in the impressive triumph while Andre Gray netted the other and Simpson has hinted their displays, plus those from others involved, could see them included on Saturday.

Crewe boss Gudjon Thordarson is expected to name an unchanged side.

The Railwaymen were 2-1 winners against Macclesfield and have now won four of their last five games in League Two, so Thordarson is unlikely to make changes

Midfielder James Bailey is closing in on a return to action having returned to training after recovering from a groin injury.

Bailey has not played since picking up the injury against Blackpool in the Carling Cup and despite being close to full fitness, he is not expected to feature against the Shrews.

Mat Mitchel-King remains on the sidelines with the back injury which he sustained in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat against Stockport.

Striker Clayton Donaldson (fractured fibula) is also out, but Luke Murphy (thigh) and Ashley Westwood (shin) are available for selection.

AJ Leitch-Smith and Chris Clements are pushing for a place in the squad after returning from a loan spell with Icelandic club IBV.