Shrewsbury Town defender Josh Ruffels is set to miss the upcoming League Two trip to Fleetwood Town after sustaining a knee injury during Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at Rochdale. The 32-year-old full-back was withdrawn on the cusp of half-time and underwent an immediate assessment, with manager Gavin Cowan confirming he will probably miss out on Saturday's match. Shropshire Star first reported the story.
Gavin Cowan said: "He’ll probably miss out tomorrow, we’re not sure yet." The Shrewsbury Town boss provided the update ahead of the Fleetwood Town fixture, indicating the injury is minor but sufficient to rule Ruffels out for the short term. The defender jarred his knee during the Rochdale match and did not return after the break.
Sam Stubbs, another Shrewsbury Town defender, suffered a concussion against Barnet and has missed the last three games. However, he has now returned to training and been involved in sessions, suggesting he could be available for selection against Fleetwood Town. His progress offers a potential boost to the backline as Ruffels faces absence.
Jack Price remains sidelined with a hamstring injury described by Gavin Cowan as "such a strange injury, it’s a hamstring thing that is on the inside but around the back." The experienced midfielder has asked to travel with the team to Fleetwood this weekend despite not being ready to play. Cowan added: "I’ve had it myself before and it’s one of the most frustrating injuries you can get."
Shrewsbury Town currently stand 22nd in League Two with 3 points from 4 games (1W-0D-3L), scoring just 2 goals and conceding 8 for a -6 goal difference. Their recent form reads LWLL, leaving them 6 points behind leaders Bristol Rovers. With Ruffels out and Price unavailable, Gavin Cowan may turn to Stubbs or other options as they prepare for the Highbury Stadium trip. For more on player availability, check the injuries page.
Shrewsbury Town are preparing for their trip to Fleetwood Town this weekend, with the match scheduled for Saturday at Highbury Stadium. The club will look to regroup after the Rochdale loss and manage a depleted defensive line, though Ruffels is not expected to be sidelined for long beyond this fixture. See the full fixtures list and review the current standings for context.
