STANLEY skipper Seamus Conneely remains a doubt for the Reds ahead of their weekend trip to Shrewsbury Town.

The Irishman missed the midweek win over Doncaster Rovers with a groin injury and although Stanley boss John Coleman is hopeful the 30-year-old will avoid surgery, Saturday's trip to Shropshire could come too soon for him.

"He has had problems with his groin before on both sides so we will just have to monitor the situation on a daily basis but I don't think it is as serious as what we thought," said Coleman.

"We will see how he is feeling, hopefully he will avoid surgery which is the big key because if he has to have surgery you are talking six or seven weeks minimum."

Should the captain miss out then loanee Dan Barlaser is set to retain his place in the XI and Coleman believes the strength of his squad means the Reds can cope if injuries bite.

"Thankfully we have a bit more strength in depth these days," he added. "We have a good squad and we are capable of absorbing injuries whereas in the past losing the captain would have debilitated us."

Aside from Conneely, Coleman will have a full squad to pick from and said the squad is relishing a third game in a week, despite the physical challenges involved.

Of the squad he said: "There is a little bit of stiffness because they have had two very hard games in the space of four days. I am not saying they can't do it because they can, they could be going up and down a ladder with a bucket full of bricks and they don't give you time off there because you are tired.

"The games can't come quick enough when you are on a little bit of a run, you want to be playing every other day."