Ex-Shrewsbury captain undergoes successful surgery after 'unusual' neck injury

The Chesterfield man, who only left Salop last summer, has not played for Paul Cook's side since the 2-2 draw against Walsall at the start of October due to this problem. 

He has now been out for more than three months and he took to social media to give an update on his fitness following surgery. 

He said: "I’m not one to post myself in hospital gowns for sympathy. Nevertheless, the surgery was a success and I have been discharged normal and active, no neck brace. It is unusual to be fair. 

"I will be working tremendously hard to be better than you’ve seen me. Until then, the boys and the new additions will continue to fight and push up the league.

“It’s been very frustrating, to say the least, but the support from my club Chesterfield and the football world has been overwhelmingly great. Players who have undergone the same surgery have reached out with support."

And speaking ahead of Chesterfield's game against Port Vale this weekend, manager Paul Cook said: “Chey had his neck operation yesterday which went very successfully. So that is really good news for us. 

"The big fella came in as one of our biggest signings, to lead our back four, be our captain probably going forward and we haven’t had him.”

Dunkley made 100 appearances for Salop during his two-year stay in Shropshire after being signed by Steve Cotterill in the summer of 2022. 

The 32-year-old was offered a new contract at the Croud Meadow last summer by head coach Paul Hurst - be he opted instead to join the Spireites signing a lengthy three-year contract. 

Dunkley was a popular figure during his time in Shropshire. In his first season at the Croud Meadow - when Shrewsbury finished 12th in League One - he started all 46 games.

At the time, Luke Leahy was Town's captain, and he also started every single game that campaign. 

But when the midfielder joined Wycombe Wanderers giving up the captain's armband Matt Taylor named Dunkley as his captain. 

The former Sheffield Wednesday man played an integral part in Town's League One survival last season.