Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen insists he had no option but to come off in the first-half of their defeat to Chelsea.
The Potters were leading 1-0 at the time, but Sorensen insisted to The Sentinel: "I couldn't really kick and it disrupted my movement. You can't play with one leg against Chelsea, so I didn't really have any choice but to come off. But I've had some treatment and it is improving, so I am very hopeful."
Sorensen had sympathy for Steve Simonsen, who is on standby to deputise at the Reebok, despite missing training yesterday with an infection in his arm. Simonsen replaced Sorensen after 41 minutes, but couldn't stop goals from Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.
Sorensen said: "It is never easy and you have to settle as quickly as possible. But five minutes after coming on, he conceded a wonder strike from Drogba.
"In the second half, he looked calm, controlled things and put in a good performance. Everyone worked their socks off and I think the team performance was spot on against a side who, in my opinion, will win the Premier League."