Two of Shrewsbury's former Sunderland players likely to miss FA Cup reunion

It might not be much of a reunion with Shrewsbury's former Sunderland players after all.

Two of Shrewsbury’s former Sunderland contingent will likely be missing when the two sides meet in the FA Cup this weekend.

The League One side have a trio of former black cats in Carl Winchester (on loan from Sunderland), Tom Flanagan and Aiden O’Brien.

However, only O’Brien looks likely to be involved at New Meadow.

Winchester is ineligible to play against his parent club, and Flanagan was forced to limp off in the 17th minute of the 3-0 home defeat to Fleetwood on New Year’s Day.

Asked if Flanagan would be fit to face Sunderland, Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill said: “He’s not looking the best at the moment.

“He ended up spending Sunday in a Birmingham hospital having an MRI scan for damage on his liver and swelling on his side.

“We did not even get a free-kick for that. He got a knee in there, it was a blatant foul. There were two fouls on Tom Flanagan.”

Flanagan was a popular player at Sunderland, making 116 appearances in three and a half years on Wearside.

O’Brien meanwhile could be involved. He has recently come back from injury and has been named on the Shrews’ bench for the last three matches

He has had a tough time of it since his summer move from Portsmouth, playing just 47 minutes – all as a substitute. The Papa Johns Trophy game against Stockport in October was his only start for the club and he is still awaiting his first goal.  

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