Mark Hughes is unlikely to risk skipper Ryan Shawcross at Newcastle tomorrow… not least because he is without Kurt Zouma against Chelsea next week.
Hughes says Shawcross is still struggling with the damaged ligament in his back that forced him to sit out last weekend’s draw with Manchester United.
And he has given little indication this week, says Hughes, that he is ready to burst back onto the scene at Newcastle tomorrow.
“It’s touch and go,” Hughes reported this morning. “In fairness, the last few weeks prior to the injury during the international week we tried to manage Ryan’s workload and then he came back and got injured (in training).
“We will check him again today and he may come in with a really positive attitude towards the game at the weekend and then I have a decision, but as things stand, it’s unlikely.”
Geoff Cameron is already out of the Newcastle game with the hamstring problem he suffered towards the end of the first half of last week’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
That leaves a likely back three at Newcastle of Zouma, Bruno Martins Indi and Kevin Wimmer, the three that finished last Saturday’s game.
Zouma, on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible against his parent club next week, however, and that means Hughes will be anxious to ensure that Cameron and/or Shawcross is fit enough to return.
Stoke also have a League Cup third round tie at Bristol City on Tuesday night to squeeze in before the Chelsea fixture.