Shrewsbury Town’s Mike Jackson has suffered a fresh setback on the road to recovery – which could keep him on crutches for up to six weeks.

The former Blackpool and Preston defender missed the end of last season with a knee injury and had a further blow in pre-season when bruising appeared around the tibia bone.

And it is that problem which is still causing an issue for the defender.

“I have had another setback with it and it’s not right – it’s all linked to the bruising on the bone,” said Jackson, who has been assisting with the coaching at Town.

Treatment

“The knee is fine – it’s the tibia bone underneath.

“There is a little area which isn’t healing properly so I have to rest up on the crutches for four to six weeks.

“It will be non weight-bearing and hopefully with that and the medical treatment, we can get it sorted out.

“The doctor has said I have just been really unlucky. He said it’s rare and that we couldn’t have done anything to prevent it.

“It’s frustrating and I need to get it right – not just for football but for the rest of my life.

“I’m disappointed but that’s the way it is at the moment and you just have to get on with it.”

Jackson, whose last appearance came at Luton in February, admitted he would be delighted to return to action immediately after Christmas.

And the 35-year-old is refusing to contemplate that the problem could be

career-threatening.

“I don’t want to think of it like that,” he said. “People might think like that because I have been out for a long time.

“All I can say is I will do everything I can to make sure I can get back playing.

“If I can’t at least I have give it a good go. But I’m not looking at it like that at the moment. If you start thinking like that, you may as well give up straight away.

“It’s frustrating and hard mentally but these things test you and make you stronger when you come back.

“The gaffer and chairman have been great with it and they have got me seeing the best people in the country.

“Everything has been done and hopefully we can get it right.”