Shrewsbury Town's Shaun Whalley out for three to four weeks
Shaun Whalley's hamstring injury is not as bad as Shrewsbury Town first feared – but he will be out for the best part of a month.
The 31-year-old winger limped off late on, after coming off the bench in the 62nd minute, as Town drew 2-2 with Peterborough last weekend.
He had only just recovered from a calf injury which kept him out for more than a month and is now due for another spell on the sidelines.
"Shaun had a scan this week to assess it," said Salop chief Sam Ricketts.
"It's not as bad as first feared. He will be a couple of weeks – or three or four weeks or so.
"Like anything, we won't rush him. We want him back, but when he's back we want him to stay fit.
"He'd been looking really good. He played for the reserves, came on and looked good in the game.
"There were a few little glimpses of the Shaun everyone loves to see, but unfortunately he got struck down by an injury.
"He tried to carry on, but it wasn't to be."
Ricketts added: "I'm really disappointed for him.
"He tried so hard to come back from one injury, and now he's going to have to do it again.
"But, fortunately, it's not as bad as everyone feared.
"In three or four weeks, he should be back."
Meanwhile, Stoke have sold out their near-1,500 allocation for the FA Cup third round tie at Town on Saturday, January 5.
