Ihionvien expected to be out for four to six months

Bradley Ihionvien (left) scored four goals in 32 league appearances for Colchester United before joining Peterborough United in August 2024

Shrewsbury Town striker Bradley Ihionvien's knee injury could keep him out of action for between four and six months, according to head coach Michael Appleton.

The 21-year-old, who is on a season-long loan from Peterborough United, damaged his knee during training in the build up to last Saturday's League Two game against Crawley Town.

Ihionvien is having an operation on Friday, and Appleton said it is difficult to put an exact time on how long he will be unavailable for.

"There's two ways the operation could go in terms of timelines," Appleton told BBC Radio Shropshire. "The absolute best we could dream of getting is eight weeks but the more likely scenario is potentially between four and six months.

"But we will know more once he comes out of surgery."

A deadline-day arrival at the start of September, Ihionvien started the next four games, and scored on his league debut for the club in a 3-1 win at Barnet to seal Town's first victory of the season.

He then lost his place after the 2-1 defeat at home by MK Dons.

"He had an impact in the first two or three games and then stepped below that standard a little bit," Appleton said.

"I say that with no issues whatsoever, he's a brilliant kid. The players like him.

"There are certain parts of his game that I spoke with him about before he got the injury that he needs to work on and be better to gain the trust of everybody in the group.

"He understands that, but we wish him really well, and once that's done [the operation] we need to get him back on his feet and make him feel as good as he possibly can because it's going to be a tough rehab for someone who's not had an injury."

Ihionvien has been with Posh since moving from Colchester in August 2024 but has been told by boss Darren Ferguson he has no future at the club.