Gareth Ainsworth hails Shrewsbury Town star for playing through pain

The 32-year-old has not had it easy since he returned to Shrewsbury this summer. But Town produced one of their best rearguard performances of the season against Blues last weekend, and Salop's centre-backs Nsiala and Aaron Pierre played a huge part in that.

Nsiala had to go off in the 89th minute of the clash and Ainsworth revealed the defender had been a doubt before the game with a back spasm.

He said: "Toto, fair play to him, he came in on Friday with a back spasm.

"I've definitely had those, I know that feeling. Chris (Skitt, the club's head of medical performance), the physio, did some great work on him, loosened him up, and got him into the game, and then I think he seized up towards the end.

"It was a worry taking him off. I'm really glad he went down when he did because I was just about to put my last change on with George Lloyd, and George Nurse came on as well and did a sterling job."

Taylor Perry returned to the Shrewsbury starting XI for the game against Birmingham, and he went off with an injury with 20 minutes left in the clash.

And Ainsworth confirmed that was more precautionary than anything else.

"I think Taylor (Perry) had just started to feel his hamstrings so we took him off before anything got pulled or anything," the boss said about the former Wolves man. "I think Carl Winchester just absolutely gave everything, ran out of steam. He was absolutely brilliant as the skipper."

Salop are set to play Steve Bruce's Blackpool next Wednesday as League One breaks this weekend for FA Cup action.