Shrewsbury pair Ben Godfrey and James Bolton look stronger after break – Paul Hurst

Central midfielder Godfrey and right-back Bolton were both described as doubts to make Sunday’s Checkatrade Trophy final against Lincoln by Hurst while recently sidelined with injury.

But the pair have since impressed since returning from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, and the Town chief thinks their break from the action worked as a positive.

“For me, and I’m sure they’re the same, you don’t want them to have an enforced rest,” Hurst said of the popular Shrews duo.

“Bolts was a bit longer than we wanted it to be and Ben’s was only a short one. But I have to say both looked almost like they’ve benefited from missing a couple of games.

“I thought Ben was a good performer in the defeat at Rochdale and excellent against Oxford. And Bolts came on and did all right and had a decent game again.

“They’re big pluses for the health of the squad going into the game, certainly when you’ve got a couple of lads that can’t be involved.”

Godfrey returned from a hamstring injury picked up at Scunthorpe by playing 90 minutes at Rochdale and against Oxford over the Easter weekend. Bolton returned from over a month out as a sub at Rochdale and played the whole game against the U’s.

Hurst wants his squad to grasp the rare chance at silverware in the often-maligned competition.

The boss, who won the competition in 1996 with Rotherham against Shrews, has told his players to grasp their chance against League Two opposition.

“It’s not very often you get an opportunity,” he continued. “There are 92 clubs and how many actually win something? Not many.

“And a lot of them are the same clubs, certainly at the top end, you have to try and grasp the opportunity.

“It is difficult to take a step out and look at it (success). That’s for another time, it might be the end of your career or the end of the season but I’m very conscious of the players enjoying these next few days.

“To not let it pass them by and to try and create some memories which will only be better ones if we win the game, there’s no two-ways about that.

“Lincoln, I’m sure, will be the same. Unfortunately there can only be one winner on the day but both teams can be proud of being in the final and the seasons they’re having.”