Blanket League One break 'makes sense' - Hurst

Paul Hurst has also managed Grimsby, Ipswich and Scunthorpe in his career

Shrewsbury Town head coach Paul Hurst believes it would "make sense" to have postponed all matches in League One this weekend due to the international break.

Town's trip to fellow strugglers Crawley is one of only two games going ahead on Saturday with all other fixtures called off due to players being away with their national sides.

Clubs can request a postponement if three or more members of their squad are called up for international duty.

Only two games are off in League Two, but none are taking place across the Premier League and Championship.

Wales Under-21 defender Luca Hoole and Grenada captain Aaron Pierre are missing for Shrewsbury as they try to win for only the second time this season at the Broadfield Stadium.

Hurst told BBC Radio Shropshire he was not happy with "the fact that we're playing and others aren't" but he didn't want "to sound like a broken record" on the issue.

"We are missing a couple of players, whether they would be in the team or not that's an irrelevance," he said.

"But we're playing and we've known that for the last week, so it's not a case of looking for an excuse and it's an opportunity to pick up points."

Asked whether he felt all matches in the third tier should be postponed during international breaks, Hurst said: "I think it makes sense because what's the value of having just a couple of games on? I'm not sure.

"We talk about a level playing field but we know that's not quite true in certain aspects.

"Of course fixtures get postponed [through the season] but that's only going to be a few teams that affects.

"When it's the whole league, I would suggest, at this stage of the season, [it's best] at least to have played the same number of games."

Shrewsbury have already played one game more than Crawley, who are one place and two points above them in the early-season table.

The newly-promoted Sussex club are under new management with Rob Elliot replacing Scott Lindsey at the start of this month.

He has overseen two defeats in his two games so far - against Wycombe in the league and AFC Wimbledon in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

Although keen to play down the importance of a game against a team that has also made a slow start, Hurst admitted victory could prove significant.

"It's another game where you want to get the points - and that's the be-all and end-all," he said.

"When it's against a team that's probably expected to be at the lower reaches of the division - as ourselves are - you can build it up and those points can be more valuable."