Johansson, Gallagher, Gibson - Stoke City injury news ahead of Sunderland clash
Narcis Pelach is hoping for the green light to put Sam Gallagher and Enda Stevens in his starting XI when Stoke City take on Sunderland on Sunday.
Gallagher is being eased into the swing of things after recovering from near-back-to-back serious injuries that have derailed the start to his life at Stoke since joining from Blackburn in August. The 29-year-old striker had his latest cameo in a 2-0 defeat to Leeds on Thursday night.
Influential left-back Stevens has missed the last six games due to a niggling calf injury, with Eric Bocat stepping up to start until utility man Lynden Gooch got the nod against Leeds.
READ MORE: Live: Narcis Pelach sacked as Stoke City head coach
READ MORE: Daniel Farke makes scary admission as comments highlight big difference between Leeds and Stoke City
Pelach said: “I will try everything I can to have him (Gallagher) available to start but at the end of the day I’m not the expert in that so I have to listen and let’s see what the medical staff. We have to try to use him from the start because I think he changes the team.”
He added: “Enda Stevens will be available, fingers crossed, for the next game. Hopefully yes we will see. He is supposed to train with the team (on Friday).”
Captain Ben Gibson will be assessed after falling ill shortly before the Leeds game, trying to play through before getting worse at half-time.
Pelach said: “I took Ben off because he started to throw up in the warm-up. He started to feel sick just a couple of hours before the game and I asked if he wanted to start and he said he wanted to be there for the team and thought he could get through the game. He’s played lots of games through his career so I think he deserves the respect to make his own choice. I kept him in the line up but at half-time when he stopped it got worse and I said I wanted to put on a healthy, fit player.”
Keeper Viktor Johansson is also being monitored after landing awkwardly as he tried to stop Joel Piroe’s first goal.
Pelach said: “Fingers crossed on that too. I need to talk to the medical staff and see what they say. Viktor is a strong personality and strong player and he can go through things even if he’s a little bit injured. Let’s see what it is.”
Bosun Lawal is being built up as he joins in with the squad for the first time since a stress fracture in his lower back was diagnosed in the summer.
Pelach said: “We’re trying to give him minutes to get up to speed and we have to give him more minutes and training sessions. We have to consider that he is making his first step in the Championship and he needs to be fitter, he needs more game time and more training time to see the best version of him. We can’t rely on him now because it wouldn’t be fair on him.”
Million Manhoef (knee), Jordan Thompson (groin) and Ben Pearson (hamstring) are out.
