Shrewsbury Town duo Matija Sarkic and Ryan Sears ruled out for 2-3 months with injury

Shrewsbury's on-loan Wolves goalkeeper Sarkic may not be fit to feature until the start of 2021 after the hamstring injury sustained in the draw at Plymouth last weekend.

The Montenegro international's season-long loan deal will be unaffected by the injury and Sarkic, 23, will complete his rehabilitation at both Sundorne Castle with Town and parent club Wolves.

Defender Sears will miss a similar period with the ankle injury he picked up in the EFL Trophy victory over Newcastle United under-21s last week.

Though the 21-year-old will be out of action for a couple of months, Shrewsbury were reasonably pleased with the outcome of Sears' MRI scan as it revealed no break, meaning no surgery required for the academy graduate.

Young Welshman Sears missed the best part of a year with an ACL injury in 2019 but is set for a much shorter period out of the fold this time around.

Town have been boosted in midfield, where Sean Goss is over a rib injury that has kept him from featuring so far this season and has returned to full training ahead of Saturday's home League One clash against Gillingham.

Dave Edwards remains a month to six weeks away from a return with a hairline fracture of the ankle. Rekeil Pyke is Shrewsbury's other long-term absentee with a thigh injury.

Sarkic's absence opens the door for Harry Burgoyne between the sticks for Town.

Burgoyne, from Ludlow, emerged from the bench at Home Park to keen a clean sheet, making a couple of key saves to preserve a point for Sam Ricketts' side.

Ricketts said of Sarkic and Sears' setbacks: "Unfortunately Mati will be out for two to three months with a hamstring injury.

"It's a bit of good news with Ryan Sears. He didn't break any bones and doesn't need an operation but he's still going to be out for the next 10 to 12 weeks or so.

"It's disappointing but a little bit of good news for Sears with no operation needed and he's keen to get ready as soon as he can.

"Injuries get thrown at you and you have to deal with them. You can't do anything about them, they just cause you a few headaches and things to sort out.

"My biggest disappointment is for the players. Mati had just come in and hit the ground running and Sears was looking the best shape I'd known him going back to when I first came in and trusted him in big games against Wolves and Barnsley.

"I thought he was in better shape and condition now than then but he's a good lad and will be back."