Muniesa adds to Stoke City’s defensive crisis

Stoke City have been dealt another big injury blow with news Marc Muniesa could miss up to six weeks with a significant hamstring tear, while Ryan Shawcross has been ruled out of this weekend’s trip to Aston Villa.

Muniesa pulled up as Blackburn Rovers broke to score the third goal in their 4-1 FA Cup win last Saturday – and it is a sign of Stoke’s injury woes that they are grateful the damage is not even worse.

Shawcross has had another injection in a back injury which has kept him out of the last three games but the best case scenario is that the captain will be available to face Hull on February 28.

It leaves Stoke, who are without suspended Geoff Cameron, hoping other defenders can win their races back to fitness. Erik Pieters (hernia) and Marc Wilson (groin) are expected to train again on Thursday, as well as Stephen Ireland (hamstring), with a view to featuring on Saturday.

Peter Crouch (groin and hip) and Jon Walters (knee) have also needed injections in hope to play against Villa.


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