Davies was Shrewsbury's top scorer last season

Shrewsbury Town skipper Ben Davies has revealed he has been playing in discomfort for the last six months as he returned from injury too soon.

"I went back without any reserve games when I'd have liked another month to get fit," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"All down the left side where I had my Achilles injury I was getting sore in the hamstring and the groin.

"It's taken me until now to get myself back to where I was but I do feel stronger and fitter now."

Davies feels he was sent back into action too soon by the then Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters, but he was praised this week by current boss Paul Simpson after scoring his first goal of the season - the last-minute winner in Town's 2-1 victory at Exeter in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday.

Simpson told BBC Radio Shropshire: "That'll do him the world of good, it was a great finish, he's been playing well but he definitely needed a goal."

Simpson said he was also pleased to see Michael Symes and Neil Ashton make their first appearances of the season.

He added: "Symesy was excellent and Neil looked like he'd never been away from the first team.

"It shows there are decent players here who when called upon can do a job, who can stay with us and keep their head and when their opportunity comes they can take it."