Shrewsbury without defensive duo for Portsmouth clash

Posted Friday, December 22, 2017 by PA

Shrewsbury remain without long-term absentees Zak Jules and Junior Brown for Portsmouth's visit to Shropshire.

Defensive pair Jules (hamstring) and Brown (knee) continue to be some way off a return for a Shrews side still flying high in League One.

Boss Paul Hurst replaced Ben Godfrey and Stefan Payne with Byrn Morris and Carlton Morris for the victory over Blackpool last weekend and has options if he decides to rotate again.

If Shrewsbury win their final three games of 2017, they will have accrued more points than they did over the entirety of last term.

Oli Hawkins has recovered from a hamstring problem ahead of Portsmouth's trip to New Meadow.

The forward was utilised as a centre-half before injury struck against Plymouth last month, but with Matt Clarke and Christian Burgess available again is likely to revert to his regular position.

Last season's top scorer Kal Naismith remains sidelined by a knee injury, so Hawkins, Conor Chaplin or Kyle Bennett will feature alongside Brett Pitman up front.

Midfielder Stuart O'Keefe picked up a knock against Bury last weekend, with Ben Close set to deputise should he fail to recover.