Shrewsbury Town are heartbroken to confirm George Nurse has sustained a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for a number of months.
George ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee back in September and has worked relentlessly over the past nine months to return to full fitness.
The wing-back impressed in our pre-season friendly at West Brom 10 days ago and put in another excellent display against Coventry on Saturday.
But in the closing stages of the game against the Sky Blues, he sustained a knee injury that will now keep him sidelined for a number of months.
Head coach Matt Taylor said: Unfortunately we have had it confirmed George has sustained a knee injury.
“We are not sure of the severity yet. But we do know it is going to keep him out for months rather than weeks.
“What I have done when speaking to George is offer him condolences because I think he has been exceptional throughout pre-season.
“Our job now is to support our player in the best way we can and make sure that he goes through a strict rehabilitation programme so that he’s back raring to go when the time is right.
“I’m really disappointed for him because I know how hard he has worked.
“I thought his performance on Saturday (against Coventry) was exceptional.
“It was a freak injury – there is nothing we could have done about it.
“We felt that he was physically able to complete the 90 minutes and bar a tackle and somebody landing on his leg that would have been the case.
“One thing I will say is as a football club and as a person I and everyone here will support George to the fullest capacity.”
Matt continued: “I am gutted for him because he has worked so hard to get in a position where he was competing for the first game of the season.
“At times football doesn’t seem fair and this is one of those moments for George.
“But what I do know - having spoken to him - is he will come back and he will be stronger as a person, first and foremost.
“What he is going through at the moment is grief because football is his life.
“I’ve lived it and while I have not had the injury he’s had, I have been out for a period of time where all you want to do is play football.
“It is my job now to support George to the best of my ability, along with everyone else at the club. We will most definitely do that.”
Everyone at Shrewsbury Town will do everything they can to support Nursey through his rehabilitation.
