Shrewsbury Town boost as Aaron Pierre ready to step up injury return

The giant stopper has been out for more than a month with the muscle injury sustained in the home defeat to Crewe at the beginning of February and has been a big miss for his side.

But it is understood positive scan results late last week mean Pierre, who turned 28 last month, can begin outdoor running after several weeks of gym work.

The hope is that Pierre could be fit to make some sort of return in around two weeks, meaning just under two months out. The defender is well ahead of schedule on what was a significant calf injury which caused other complications, but the problem has healed well.

Town are three games without a win heading to League One basement boys Rochdale tomorrow. The absence of Pierre, who joined fellow defender Matthew Pennington in the treatment room for a period, meant Shrewsbury switched to a back four, but Pennington's return has since seen Steve Cotterill's men revert to a back three.

Salop had been light in that department with only Ethan Ebanks-Landell and Ro-Shaun Williams available as recognised fit senior centre-halves. Assistant boss Aaron Wilbraham did not rule out a move for a free agent defender a few weeks ago.

Town head to Rochdale and then Charlton on Saturday without Pierre, before a seven-day break until current leaders Hull visit Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Pierre has been a significant miss to Shrewsbury, as is skipper and midfielder Ollie Norburn, who missed Saturday's defeat to Fleetwood after coming off injured against AFC Wimbledon last week. Like Pierre, Norburn could be back in just a couple of weeks.

Right-back Donald Love is some weeks away from a return due to a groin injury picked up in the recent win over MK Dons. Town were boosted by Brad Walker's return from a serious ankle injury against Fleetwood.