Davies op big blow for Shrewsbury

Ben Davies took over the Shrewsbury Town captaincy last season

Shrewsbury Town captain Ben Davies could be out of action for a month after a double hernia operation.

Town's free-kick expert has nine goals to his name this season but, after playing through the pain barrier, Davies now has sit on the sidelines.

"Keep going with things like that and you end up with a more serious injury," boss Paul Simpson told BBC Shropshire. "I wasn't prepared to let that happen.

"I think we'll be missing him for three to four weeks."

Following Tuesday night's latest Johnstone's Paint goal splash (Town followed up their 7-0 win at Wycombe in the previous round by beating Dagenham and Redbridge 5-0), Simpson's men are in cup action again on Saturday.

Town will start their month without the injured Davies at Blyth Spartans in the first round of the FA Cup (1400 GMT).

Follow Shrewsbury in the Cup on Saturday on BBC Radio Shropshire (Shropshire United starts earlier than usual, 1300 GMT).