Stoke boss Mark Hughes feels defender Robert Huth is likely to need surgery on his injured knee. "We hoped that we would be able to manage him through it," Hughes said.
"But it looks like he will have to have an operation on it, so we are going to lose him for a number of weeks."
Hughes will also be without forward Marko Arnautovic for Saturday's trip to Everton.
"Marko pulled up with a hamstring strain, so he is out as well," the Potters boss lamented.
"We hope to get him back sooner rather than later, but he will be missing."
For breaking stories and all the great banter like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tribalfootball