Dave Edwards ruled out of Shrewsbury Town's FA Cup clash with Wolves
Shrewsbury Town have announced that Dave Edwards will not feature against former side Wolves this weekend due to injury.
The midfielder re-joined Salop this month from Reading, and picked up a minor groin injury during the 3-0 defeat at Charlton.
Salop confirmed that Edwards himself has ruled himself out of the fixture, which has already been confirmed as a sell-out.
In a statement issued on Shrewsbury Town's website, they explained the motive behind the decision:
"Dave has been putting in the hard work to get back to fitness following a slight groin problem picked up in the home game with Charlton a week a go." read the statement.
"Despite being close to fitness Dave has decided to focus on getting back fit and ready for the upcoming league games rather than pushing for a place in the squad for the weekend.
"It’s a tough decision for Dave to make to rule himself out of the game with his old team."
Edwards made more than 280 appearances for Wolves between 2008 and 2017, and joined the club from Luton, the club he joined upon his original departure from the Meadow.
This weekend's FA Cup fourth round clash had been dubbed the 'Dave Edwards Derby', due to the long links between the midfielder and Wolves.
He admitted that it was a hard decision to make, but one which ultimately made the most sense given Salop's upcoming League One fixtures.
"It was a decision I made as I’ve been building up my fitness but I got to the point on Wednesday after training I felt a little bit tight”, he said.
“With me missing training I just felt it was too big a risk for me to train on Thursday and Friday to try to be put into a game."
“As disappointing as it is for me it’s more about the long term picture and hopefully I will be out training again shortly.
“If I can miss this game and then focus on the league games ahead that’s more important.
“I’ll be cheering on from the side lines and if we can get a result and a replay then who knows I might be able to be involved.
“If I was still at Reading I would be badgering to get tickets, it is two teams who mean the world to me, but I will have my blue and amber hat on.”
Former Wolves defender and now Shrewsbury Town boss Sam Ricketts admitted everyone would have 'loved' to see Edwards take to the field, but hailed his attitude in making the decision.
“Everyone would have loved Dave to play and I’m certainly no different”, Ricketts said.
“It came from Dave himself that he just felt he wasn’t quite ready, even though how much he wanted to play."
“It takes a person who wants to put the team first to say that, especially as it would be a great occasion for him personally
“It’s a mark of the person that he is looking at the team rather than himself.”
