David Hunt has not featured for Shrewsbury now since mid-March

Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Simpson has told injured midfielder David Hunt he is still part of his first-team plans.

Hunt picked up a pre-season knee injury, and has been sidelined along with the more prominent Paul Murray.

"I liked what I saw of David in our pre-season build-up, and I'm following his and Paul's rehab closely," Simpson told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"He's not forgotten. He still has a lot to offer, and is very much part of the first-team squad."

Hunt and Murray (ankle) are still several weeks away from a return.

But striker Richard Walker will go head to head with Dave Hibbert for a starting place at Darlington on Saturday after proving he is over his hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Simpson has opted not to offer a deal to Leeds United trialist Rob Bailey.

Bailey scored for the reserves in last week's 5-2 win against Macclesfield. But Simpson said: "I can only bring someone in who's better than what we've already got, and that wasn't the case."