AFC Telford's Jack Rea faces another month on sidelines

The 25-year-old former skipper has not played since limping off in the Bucks’ 1-0 victory at Darlington on August 19.

First thought to be a minor knock, Rea had a scan which revealed an issue with the joint.

He has been to see a specialist too, and will go there again in four weeks.

Telford boss Rob Edwards said: “I don’t know how long it will be, I’m not sure about that.

“Obviously we are hoping to have him (playing) as soon as possible. We will keep working with him, but we have not got to put a time frame on it at the moment.”

Edwards hailed Rea has a ‘leader and thinker’ prior to his injury, and also said he had been a ‘big help’ while settling in.

Meanwhile, Edwards insists a lack of experience is not the determining factor behind their uneven form.

The Bucks’ last nine National League North results read L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L.

Of the 16 players in the squad for the 3-2 defeat at Chorley last weekend, skipper Shane Sutton was the oldest at 28.

Goalkeeper Jas Singh and wing-back Jordan Gough are 27 while the rest are 24 and under. When asked if that youthfulness is the reason for their lapses in concentration recently, Edwards said: “No. I think, ultimately, if you keep getting punished with the same mistakes you need to look at it.

“It can’t keep happening but, like I have said before, there are mistakes at all levels of the game.

“Once it can happen, twice, alright, you have to think why and then three times, is it registering? We have got to look at it, we know that. But there’s lots of positives, we look a real threat going forward.

“That’s pleasing, you need that threat. That’s the hardest thing to do, to put the ball in the back of the net.

“We have just got to get that other bit right, and then we’ll be OK.”

Meanwhile, Telford Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup second qualifying round tie at Halesowen Town will take place on Thursday, October 5 (7.45pm).

The Bucks beat Lichfield City 2-1, after extra-time, in the last round.