Matthew Forced to Miss British National Championships

England's highest-ranked squash player Nick Matthew has been forced to withdraw from next month's British National Championships, to be staged at the National Squash Centre at Sportcity, Manchester, from 12-17 February.

The 27-year-old world No5 from Sheffield, who followed his title success at the US Open last October by reaching the semi-finals of the World Open in December, sustained a shoulder ligament tear whilst leading England to their successful defence of the Men's World Team Championships in India. Following corrective surgery, Matthew is currently undergoing intensive physiotherapy treatment.

"I'm absolutely gutted to be missing my second successive Nationals," said the Yorkshireman whose damaged ankle ligaments in January 2007 prevented him from competing in the championships last year.

"The Nationals has always been an important event in my schedule and not being able to play in the championships since winning the title in 2006 is a massive blow," added Matthew. "On a positive note, the surgeons have told me that the operation went well and I am confident that with the support of the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield that I will be back on court very quickly."

Matthew, who is not expected to make his return to the Men's World Tour until the Dunlop British Open in Liverpool in May, made an indelible mark on squash history in 2006 when he became the first home-grown British Open Champion for 67 years, rounding off a sensational year which began with him being crowned British National Champion for the first time and also included him winning the British Grand Prix title.

In addition to men's and women's open events, the British Nationals - in its sixth year at Sportcity - will feature Masters events which will attract the nation's best players in age-group categories ranging from Over-35 to Over-70.