Stoke defender Robert Huth is battling to be fit for the FA Cup final on Saturday and has flown to Spain to see a knee specialist. The German centre-half has a torn hamstring, and is a major doubt for this weekend's Wembley showpiece against Manchester City.
Potters Chairman Peter Coates told the Stoke Sentinel: "I think there has been a bit of a response to the treatment but it's far too early to reach any conclusions.
"He has seen a specialist we have used before and have full confidence in. He will then be coming back to us - then we just have to wait and hope.
"He will be desperate to play at Wembley, like any footballer would be, and it will be a terrible shame if he does miss out.
"It's going to be a very difficult judgment to make about whether he plays - for the player, the medical staff and, ultimately, (manager) Tony Pulis."
Coates added: "It is a credit to everybody at the football club that we had kept everybody so fit this season but then at a crucial stage of the season we've now had all these setbacks.
"We are disappointed but most of all we are disappointed for the players themselves because it is such a huge event to play in a cup final at Wembley."
