Shrewsbury vs Manchester United: Larnell Cole fit to face former club in FA Cup clash

Shrewsbury Town have been handed a double injury boost ahead of the FA Cup fifth-round visit of Manchester United with the news that midfielder Larnell Cole and defender Jack Grimmer are both fit for the tie at New Meadow. Manager Micky Mellon has no injury concerns for the match on 22 February, which sees the lowest-ranked team left in the competition face the 11-time winners.

Grimmer, currently on loan from Fulham, scored the 97th-minute winner that saw off Sheffield Wednesday in round four and set up a game against his boyhood club. Cole, also in the midst of a spell away from Craven Cottage, is a former academy graduate at United and is in line to face his former club after taking part in training this week.

"As always [when there's a big game] the physio becomes unemployed because nobody needs him!" said Mellon. "That's what you expect and that's what usually happens because it's an exciting time for the club.

"Jack Grimmer will be fit and Larnell Cole have trained and there's a few that were in the development squad on Tuesday to build towards the weekend. All or most will be available for selection [against Manchester United] other than the cup-tied lads or long-term injuries."

Despite being just three points above the League One drop zone, Shrewsbury arguably come into the game against their illustrious opponents in better shape having beaten relegation rivals Blackpool in their last game, while United are reeling after their Europa League loss to Midtjylland. David de Gea has joined a 14-man absentee list after suffering a knee problem in the warm-up in Denmark and Mellon admits his players will not be intimidated.

"We will give it our best go and we won't be overawed [by United]," he said. "We will make sure that we thoroughly enjoy the game and take it all in and give the best account of ourselves that we possibly can to represent this great football town.

"We've got to do certain things in a certain way to increase our chances of getting a result, so that's what we're working on and the mentality we're approaching the game with. We'll incorporate that into the game plan so that the players know why we're doing what we're doing and hopefully it gives us a good opportunity of getting the result."