Football
PA Sport 9y

Ryan Shawcross ruled out for Stoke with back injury

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross has been ruled out of action for "a couple of weeks" with a back injury.

Shawcross had to come off in the first half of last Saturday's 3-1 Premier League win over QPR at the Britannia Stadium because of the problem.

And Stoke announced the news on their official website on Friday that the 27-year-old centre-back now faces some time on the sidelines.

Manager Mark Hughes said: "Unfortunately Ryan will be missing now for a couple of weeks.

"That is a big disappointment for us because he is obviously an important player for us and the captain, so he will be a miss.

"We do have other players who are capable of filling in though, so it is a chance for them to come in and make a mark -- just as they have done in the past.''

Jon Walters, who scored a hat trick in the QPR game, is a doubt ahead of Sunday's league trip to Newcastle due to a knee problem which has prevented him training this week, although Hughes is hopeful the forward will be available.

^ Back to Top ^