THE MANAGER

Paul Simpson

He guided Carlisle back into the Football League in 2005, before taking charge at Preston.

He only spent 17 months at Deepdale before being sacked and after a short spell out of the game he returned to management with Shrewsbury almost a year ago.

TEAM NEWS

Shrewsbury are expected to be unchanged from their 1-1 draw against Exeter City on home soil on Tuesday night.

Experienced defender Michael Jackson is sidelined with a cartilage problem.

Graham Coughlan has been handed the captain's armband from midfielder Ben Davies.

Russell Hoult (shoulder) and Matt Hamshaw (hamstring) are both still ruled out for the Magpies.

And midfielder Adam Nowland is struggling with a back problem, after starting the last two games.

Michael Johnson is expected to return to the heart of defence, after being rested for the midweek defeat at Darlington.

TEAMS

SHREWSBURY (4-4-2): Daniels (gk), Moss (rb), Langmead (cb), Coughlan (cb), Cansdell-Sherriff (lb), Worrall (rm), Dunfield (cm), Murray (cm), Davies (lm), Holt (st), Ashikodi (st).

NOTTS (4-4-2): Pilkington (gk), Picken (rb), Edwards (cb), Johnson (cb), Clapham (lb), Forte (rm), Butcher (cm), Thompson (cm), Weston (lm), Forrester (st), Forte (st).

DANGER MAN

Ben Davies

The 27-year-old has been stripped of the captain's armband but he has vowed it will not affect his form – and it is form the Magpies need to be wary of, as he has scored 11 goals this season.

KEY CLASH

Grant Holt v Michael Johnson

The former Forest striker has scored 15 goals in 32 league games for the Shrews, since leaving the City Ground in a £170,000 deal last summer.

The Magpies badly missed Michael Johnson's presence in the midweek defeat at Darlington but he will make a timely return and will be charged with stifling Holt's threat.

GETTING THERE

At the end of the M54 continue onto the A5.

Take the B4380 (Thieves Lane) and continue forward over two roundabouts onto Oteley Road, on which the stadium is situated.