Gareth Ainsworth was tight lipped on the fitness of key man Fred Onyedinma ahead of Saturday’s top of the table clash against Shrewsbury.

The striker was named in the starting XI against Southend last weekend but didn’t appear for kick-off after feeling his calf tighten in the warm-up.

He watched the 2-2 draw from the stands after Ainsworth chose not to put him on the bench and the Blues boss would not reveal whether he will play a part in tomorrow’s game.

He said: “I can’t give a definitive answer at the moment so we’ll see how he goes in the next few days. He’s a big player, obviously, and that was a big curve ball we got thrown in the warm-up at Southend.

“Fred and Matt Bloomfield losing both of those two, two of your keys players, was tough to take. We’ll see how they both fare but whatever 11 I put out will be good enough.”

The 18-year-old made his first Wanderers start against Mickey Mellon’s team in a 0-0 draw at Greenhous Meadow in December and has since gone on to find the net eight times. While the on loan Millwall man has a chance of featuring one player who is unlikely to be seen is midfielder Max Kretzschmar.

The 21-year-old’s last appearance came back on December 7 in the FA Cup second round defeat against AFC Wimbledon.

“Max is very close to returning to the squad – he’s almost there,” said Ainsworth.

“He’ll probably be an omission on Saturday again, but he’s close and he’s getting fitter and stronger. It’s been a nightmare season for Max with his injuries.”

Wanderers head into the Saturday’s match one point behind Shrewsbury with the teams occupying third and second in League Two respectively.

Despite the significance of the game Ainsworth played down suggestions that it’s the biggest match of the season so far.

“The first game of the season was a huge one and every game since then has been the same,” he said.

“Looking at the league table people might bill it as that, but we’ve been top this season and played teams up there so it’s not the biggest game of the season it’s another one that we want to try and win to aid us in promotion.

“The big thing is that we don’t want teams around us picking up points so that’s the big thing this weekend. Shrewsbury are a team around us and it would be great to limit the amount of points they can pick up.”

Wycombe are winless in their last four matches at Adams Park with their success on home turf coming against York in early January.

The side’s home form is a sharp contrast to their impeccable away record and the Blues boss feels the fans will have a part to play in helping his team come out on top in back-to-back home fixtures (Shrewsbury and Accrington) .

He said: “The fans are huge at this club. It’s a fan-owned club and as long as it’s a fan-owned club the fans will be huge on and off the pitch. On the pitch all fans are huge; getting behind your boys and they’ve done that fantastically and we’ll need them at home.

“Off the pitch they’ve been great as well. I know the share scheme is being launched on the 19th which is brilliant. For this club to keep going and surviving and performing the way we are it’s important for that as well.

“People don’t realise that being a Wycombe Wanderers fan is not just turning up on a Saturday and coming to see, shout and go home. There’s a lot more that goes into it being a fan-owned club, a trust-owned club.

“The likes of Wimbledon, Portsmouth and Exeter will know and they can empathise with us because there’s a lot more that goes into it than just supporting your team. Hopefully on the pitch we’re giving them a team they want to be proud of and want to get involved with.”