Defender Ryan Shawcross is to undergo back surgery and will be out for at least two months, Stoke have announced.
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The injury hampered the 27-year-old’s involvement last season, but the club had been hopeful that surgery would not be required.
After undergoing pre-season training, discomfort continued and the club have revealed that they had no option but to send their man for an operation. Shawcross has been a key player for the Potters ever since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2008. He helped inspire their promotion into the Premier League seven years ago and has since featured over 300 times for the club in all competitions.
It will be interesting to see if Stoke boss Mark Hughes, who has already made eight signings this summer, will now move again in the transfer market in a bid to compensate for the loss of Shawcross. He will also miss home fixtures against West Brom and Leicester but he could be back for the clash against Aston Villa on 3 October.
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“The likes of Geoff, Marc, Philipp and Muniesa are top class centre-halves who will be brilliant replacements for us”.
