Shrewsbury Town midfielder Jack Price will be sidelined for "the foreseeable future" after suffering a hamstring injury during pre-season.
Head coach Gavin Cowan confirmed the 33-year-old will miss a number of weeks following a scan that revealed the extent of the problem.
Price's Impact in Pre-Season
Price, who returned for a second spell at his hometown club this summer, impressed during the club's pre-season preparations. Cowan told BBC Radio Shropshire: "Jack's had quite a bad one on his hamstring and we're waiting on timescales but he'll be out for the foreseeable future."
The manager said Price was devastated by the setback. "He's absolutely devastated because he's had such a strong pre-season and the lads were cooing over him about how we can utilise him this season and what he's going to do for us," Cowan said.
Cowan stressed the injury is unrelated to any previous problem. "It's nothing to do with his old injury, it's completely separate. It's just an unfortunate one that's come about in a really strange part in his hamstring, but when the time comes he'll be a massive asset to us."
Off-Field Role During Recovery
While Price recovers, Cowan indicated the former Wolves player is likely to contribute to the club off the field. "Jack's not here to be a cheerleader; he wants to play every week," Cowan said. "But with an injury we look at how he can affect the group — he's extremely humble, has played at a high level and can offer something. I think he will do that."