Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen has revealed that Jack Butland is hoping to return to full fitness within just three weeks.

Butland was expected to be ruled out for a long period once again after breaking his finger while on duty with the England national team last week.

Bowen said: "I don't think we are very lucky as a group, we seem to pick up injuries, especially from international breaks. I spoke to Jack this morning and he mentioned to me that Asmir Begovic did something similar a while back.

"He says the time limit, at the very worst, could be six weeks, but if it knits together well it could possibly be three weeks. But at this stage we are loathe to put a time limit on it."