Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts: Injury to Lenell John-Lewis 'doesn't look good'

Boss Sam Ricketts is worried that the injury to club captain Lenell John-Lewis 'doesn't look good'.

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Frontman John-Lewis, 29, appeared to twist his left knee after just 13 minutes against Stoke in the FA Cup and was stretchered off, later seen sporting a knee brace and using crutches.

A diagnosis will be given after the forward has a scan early in the week but boss Ricketts said the injury was the biggest disappointment on a day when Town were pegged back late on against the Potters.

John-Lewis missed almost the entirety of the 2016/17 campaign for former club Newport County after picking up a serious knee injury in a pre-season friendly that year.

"I don't know, it doesn't look good but we'll assess that over the next few days," said Ricketts on John-Lewis, who is out of contract this summer.

"It'll be assessed and scanned and taken from there.

"Lenny is the biggest disappointment of today.

"He's a fantastic person and character. We'll assess him now and see where we're at from there.

"I'm really disappointed for him as are all the players."

Midfielder Anthony Grant said that team-mates had tears in their eyes when John-Lewis was receiving treatment and being stretchered off at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Grant said: "Everybody loves Lenny. It was very disappointing. A few boys had tears in their eyes, obviously.

"He's a very big influence around the changing room, so it wasn't nice to see.

"We'll all stick together and look after him, hopefully he'll mend very soon."

Grant, who put in another superb display, added: "Lenny's not everyone's favourite player from fans' perspective but as an individual around the building and around the club he's a very genuine guy.

"Whenever young players need help for anything he's always there. He's someone you want in your team or around the squad.