Shrewsbury Town: Tom Flanagan and Morgan Feeney sidelined by injuries
- Published
Tom Flanagan has now made 75 appearances for Shrewsbury since signing from Sunderland in January 2022
Shrewsbury Town have lost two more defenders with injuries, Tom Flanagan and Morgan Feeney.
Northern Ireland international Flanagan, 32, will be out "for months" with a knee injury, said boss Matt Taylor, while Feeney, 24, has a "freak" lacerated kidney issue.
Taylor is relieved that Flanagan's injury, sustained in Saturday's win over Port Vale, is not more serious.
"It was actually better news than we expected," he said.
Shrewsbury, who already have a crowded treatment room, had feared that he might have suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
"He will still be out for a matter of months, as opposed to weeks," said Taylor. "But at least it's not an ACL.
"He started the season well, he got taken out and then fought his way back into the starting XI and he has played really well and been really consistent since he got back into the team."
Morgan Feeney has made 14 Shrewsbury appearances since signing in the summer from Carlisle United
Feeney came through Saturday's 2-1 win over Port Vale but was then ruled out for Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Exeter, along with midfielder Jason Sraha.
"Morgan has a kidney injury." said Taylor. "A complete freak injury. But we are hoping to get him back as soon as possible.
"It's a real blow for us. It seems every injury at the moment is one where we are losing players for a considerable amount of time."
Taylor, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Monday, has steered Shrewsbury to 12th in League One - nine points off the play-off places, having been on a much improved run in November, following a poor start to the season.
Their next test is on Friday night when they face Notts County in the FA Cup second round. But Taylor was pleased with Tuesday's point at St James Park.
"We have got a lot of injuries and everything that can go against us is going against us but we battled and harried and I can't have any complaints," Taylor said.
"The players are out on their feet. We don't have a huge reserve of players but they keep giving effort and showing determination.
"I have said to the players I will go with that every week. I'm very happy with a clean sheet after losing 4-0 in our last away game.
"The way our players battled I am exceptionally happy with. You saw the appreciation from the supporters who have travelled a long way on a Tuesday night."