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Stevens, Lawal, Gallagher - Mixed Stoke City injury news as key man set for further tests
Enda Stevens is being assessed again today after a scan revealed his injury is probably a little worse than first feared.
Stevens hoped that by coming off early against Preston North End last Tuesday he had prevented what is believed to be a calf problem developing and he was confident he could be involved on Saturday against Burnley.
But the 34-year-old left-back was left out of the squad and Narcis Pelach admits he might have to stay on the sidelines next weekend too for the long trip to Sunderland. Eric Bocat has been sharing minutes in defence so far this season.
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Pelach said: “We’ll see. He’s a big doubt for Sunderland. We expected him to be available (against Burnley) but the scan we received meant we have had to wait and we’ll have to assess him again on Monday. Then we’ll know.”
Bosun Lawal and Sam Gallagher are making a big step up in training this week.
Lawal is joining in with the team for the first time since a medical flagged up a back injury when he signed from Celtic in the summer. The 21-year-old will be a big option for Pelach at centre-half, central midfield and at right-back – but he will need to be carefully introduced and there are likely to be first team cameos and appearances for the under-21s while he gets up to speed.
Gallagher, aged 29, will come into contention sooner, which will be a boon as Stoke tackle an intensive run of fixtures – but with half-an-eye on making sure he doesn’t do too much too soon and end up back in the treatment room.
Pelach said: “Sam and Bosun are close and they will be training with the team this week. It’s not full training, it will be modified a little bit, but they’ll be training with the team, which is very positive.
“In Bosun Lawal’s case, he has to make the step into the Championship and he missed a lot of pre-season so he can be training but we can’t force him to play games too early because then he’ll be vulnerable and we don’t want. We have to build him up and make sure that when we play him, he’s ready for this intensity, which is big and, for him, is new.
“Sam is different because he knows the league and he’s played games this season already. We just need to be careful when is the right moment to introduce him to make sure we don’t get another one.”
Ben Pearson remains in recovery from a hamstring injury. Lynden Gooch was back on the bench against Burnley for the first time since suffering a knee injury in September.
