Stoke City could be without goalkeeper Jack Butland for ten weeks.

Chairman Peter Coates revealed that it could take that long before he is up and running again after surgery.

He told The Sentinel: “We are assuming the operation will be successful and he will resume his career, there is no reason to think otherwise, but it could take 10 weeks from the operation.

“I'm being cautious when I say 10 weeks because we don't know for sure at this stage and hopefully it's sooner. The quicker the better for everybody, obviously.

“The main thing is that we understand the operation will sort the problem out and so we are confident that everything will be right."