Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen says Bojan Krkic is set to return from injury ahead of schedule.

The ex-Barcelona striker, 24, missed the second half of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

But he has been named in Stoke's squad for Saturday's friendly at Brentford and is on course to be fit for the start of the Premier League season.

"You're desperate to get him back but you have to be mindful of what he's been through," said Bowen.

"He may play a part against Brentford and it'll be great to have him back, but it has been tempered with a bit of caution."

Bowen told BBC Radio Stoke: "He's way ahead of schedule. The physios keeps putting the reins on him as he just wants to do more, but it may take time to build up his fitness."