Shrews’ injury curse returns

Saturday 19th December 2009, 1:25PM GMT.

Jake Simpson of Shrewsbury Town and Scott Kerr of Lincoln City

The injury curse which has dogged Shrewsbury Town for much of the first half of the League Two campaign has struck again.

Young winger Jake Simpson has been ruled out for three months with a knee problem.

The former Blackburn youngster – son of Town boss Paul – has missed the last two games, but an MRI scan has now confirmed Simpson faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“Jake is likely to be out for 12 weeks as he has an edema to the growth plate at the head of his tibia,” said manager Simpson.

“He will have possibly six weeks on crutches to have no weight bearing on it.

“These are things you have to put up with as a player and a manager.

“We seem to have been smacked over the lead a little too much with the ‘unlucky stick’ so far this season when it comes to injuries.

“But we have got to deal with it and hope that the ones who get called up do themselves justice.”

Simpson has made seven starts for Town in his first season in professional football, although has played a bit-part role in recent weeks.

He joins a long list of Shrewsbury players who have been hit by long-term absences, including Chris Neal, Glynn Garner, Mike Jackson, Terry Dunfield, Craig Disley and Lewis Neal.

By JAMES GARRISON