Paul Hurst won't be able to field his normal system for Shrewsbury Town

The Salop manager is preparing to oversee his first League One clash as a manager but revealed he will be forced away from his favoured system.

Having take three training sessions alongside assistant Chris Doig, Hurst – due to injury concerns, suspensions and lack of personnel – will be unable to field a 4-4-2, the formation that served him well at former club Grimsby.

Hurst admitted there is 'no doubt' that he will bolster his ranks in January. He said: "I'd spoke of how I like to play, and very quickly I can't play how I'd like to, and that's an honest assessment. It is striking a balance, and I don't think it's the most confident group at this time, so I'm sure there'll be better to come.

"There is no doubt in my mind things I'd like to change in the squad.

"That doesn't mean – and the message I'd get across to the players that read – is not that they're all no good, but it's to help the players.

"Naturally what you get is the ones that buy into what you want to do and then they have a better chance of being in your plans. The ones that don't, whether it's leaving the football club or not playing as many games as they would like, I'd like to give ourselves more options, certainly.

"At Grimsby in general has been a 4-4-2. The last victory I had when we went to Cambridge – we played a 4-4-1-1. The numbers can be interpreted in different ways."

Centre-half Ryan McGivern is suspended for the Roots Hall clash, while fellow defenders Olly Lancashire and Adam El-Abd are both injury concerns.

Backing up his favoured 4-4-2 formation, Hurst revealed his preference for natural width before warning wingers are another area where Shrewsbury are thin on the ground.

Salop fans have witnessed a number of systems this term as former boss Micky Mellon searched for the right balance, and Hurst confirmed the importance of clarity.

"I like wingers and they are something we haven't really got in abundance here," he added. "The obvious one is injured (Shaun Whalley) and the other's a young player who's been brought in and found life difficult here so far (Moha).

"Perhaps Junior Brown's the other one that can play there – not an out-and-out winger, but can play there.

"I think fans want to see a plan and I think we need certain characters at this moment, so Saturday's team will be based on that as well."