Devastated Shrewsbury Town striker Terry Gornell has vowed to come back stronger from his Emirates heartbreak as he faces up to missing one of the biggest nights of his footballing career.

Gornell will be serving the last game of a three match suspension – for a red card against Hereford last Saturday – while his Town team-mates pit their wits against Arsenal in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday.

But despite the huge disappointment of missing the League Two club’s showpiece occasion, Gornell is looking to the future.

“Last weekend was a long one on a personal level, thinking about the sending off and the consequences of the three-match ban,” said the former Accrington Stanley frontman.

“It’s a sickener to miss Arsenal but it was just as disappointing to miss Bristol Rovers on Tuesday and it will be the same at Port Vale on Saturday.

“Arsenal at the Emirates was the glamour tie we got and I was buzzing about it.

“I’ve played at decent stadiums – Elland Road and places like that – but that would have been another level.

“It’s going to be really disappointing (missing out) but there is no point moping around – it’s happened and I have to get on with it and support the lads.

“It’s a long season so I have to keep going with my head right and make up for it.”

Gornell insists there was no intent in the challenge on Bulls goalkeeper Dave Cornell which earned him the red card.

“I thought the ball was there to be won but the keeper was sharp to come out,” added the 21-year-old.

“There was no malice and there was nothing dirty in it. I just tried to nick the ball first and the ref saw it as a sending off.

“At the time I thought it was harsh – I thought we both came to it at the same time.

“Looking at it on the television, it looked a bit worse than I thought it was.”

By JAMES GARRISON