Mkandawire faces battle to be fit for Crawley game
Skipper Tamika Mkandawire is expected to be out for a couple of weeks after limping off injured in the early stages of Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat against Oldham Athletic.
Manager Graham Turner does not expect to have the central defender available for Shrewsbury Town's next match, away to Crawley on September 14, but he's hopeful the injury will not keep Mkandawire sidelined for too long.
"He could be struggling for a couple of weeks," he said. "It's not a hamstring, it's the sheath of the hamstring which has been damaged.
"It's unfortunate but these things happen. Crawley might just be too early for him and he might miss that one but then be fit after that."
GT admitted he had not known a start to the season like it in terms of the continual disruption to his Town side.
"There's been a number of things apart from injuries," he said. "Tam missing a game because of the birth of his daughter, Akwasi Asante being called back from here by Birmingham and then not playing, little things like that have disrupted our plans, disrupted the side.
"We've not really had a settled team, particularly the back four. There's been a number of changes.
"I think we've already played three different right backs so there are difficulties but it's up to players to adapt."
GT said bringing in a defender on loan was an option when the emergency loan window opens next weeks if he feels it's necessary.
But he's hopeful that Dave Winfield, his summer signing from Wycombe Wanderers, will soon be available for selection as he continues to make good progress from injury.
"I think we're at bare numbers now but we're keeping our fingers crossed that Dave Winfield will have part of the action in the reserves against Oldham next Tuesday," added the manager.
"That will be a big boost if he does because he's not far off being match fit so there are positive signs.
"But if we feel it necessary, the emercency loan window opens again on Tuesday, so there is the prospect of us pursuing somebody if we feel it's necessary."