Ryan Sears nearing Shrewsbury Town return
Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts is looking at gradually introducing Ryan Sears back into action after the youngster’s lengthy lay-off.
Sears, who turned 21 on Monday, has been working his way back from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament knee injury.
The Welshman picked up the injury in training just before the end of last season, after impressing against Barnsley a few days previously.
But Sears, a product of Town’s academy, has returned to training after eight months out and Ricketts will look at ways to hand him a return to action.
“Sears is not ready to play but he’s back in training which is really good,” said Ricketts. “We’ve still got to do some testing and bits and pieces to make sure we gradually build him back up.
“But he’s back in training and it’s great to have him in.
“Pretty much (it’s full training), not ‘full full’ training, but as close as we can be. He’s got to be cleared with more testing, but he’s not a million miles away and then it’s about trying to get him some game time.
“We’ll just have to gauge how he goes, try to get some games into him and ease him back in because he’s been out for a long time.
“He’s looking good and it’s great to have him back in.”
Once fit, Sears will be provide competition for right wing-back Donald Love.
Shrewsbury, who sit out today’s round of League One fixtures as they were due to travel to Bury, are in a good place regarding injuries.
Loan striker Callum Lang has began running and is set to return this month, while Ricketts says the only way to test new midfielder Ousmane Fane’s fitness is to get him playing.
