Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury's James Bolton relieved to be over injury nightmare

Defender James Bolton is fully-focused on Shrewsbury Town’s run-in after overcoming the worst injury set-back of his career.

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The right-back, 23, missed more than a month of football in February and March after damaging his ankle ligaments in the 2-0 win at Charlton.

Bolton returned five weeks later as he came from the bench in the defeat at Rochdale on Good Friday and has since completed 90 minutes against Oxford, Lincoln and Bradford.

He said: “It was a bit of a mare. It seems like a while ago now. It’s been a long road getting back.

“It was probably the first injury I’ve had where I’ve been out for a while.

“I’ve not really had an injury where I’ve not been out for that long. I missed quite a lot of football. It was hard to take but I’ve got through it now and I’ve got to keep going.

“It was a weird one. They originally thought it’d be a week but I wasn’t walking until two weeks. It was a lot longer than I thought but hopefully we’re alright now.”

Luke Hendrie filled in at right-back but Bolton was delighted to earn a show of trust from boss Paul Hurst.

It was nice that he put me back in,” the former FC Halifax man added. “I’ve just got to try and keep my place and do what I can.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, wondering how long this injury is going to take, the lads were doing OK.”