Stoke City could be without Jack Butland for the entire season after their first choice goalkeeper suffered yet another setback from his return from a long-term injury.
Butland has not featured since injuring his ankle during England’s 3-2 win over Germany in March and has suffered several setbacks in his road to recovery already.
The 23-year-old was expected to return around the festive period or start of next year but the Stoke ace is now ruled out for another three months and could even miss the rest of the season after a hidden stress fracture, which did not show up on initial scans, was discovered.
“There were some issues in the ankle – some were addressed and some weren’t,” The Daily Express quote Stoke manager Mark Hughes as saying in midweek.
“Everybody feels comfortable that the ankle is sound but now it just needs time for the bones to heal. There was a little fracture that wasn’t showing up on scans which is what he was getting pain from.
“He could be back before the end of the season. That’s the hope, touch wood. He shouldn’t get any complications. It’s going to be long term and it’s a year out of his career. You can only console him a bit by saying he’s got his whole career in front of him.”
It’s not only a blow for Butland, but also Stoke, who will now need to speed up the process of signing a new goalkeeper with Lee Grant’s loan deal due to expire in January.
Stoke are still keen to sign the 33-year-old on a permanent deal but Hughes has already said the club will not be held to ransom by Derby, which could mean a move for an alternative goalkeeper.
Of goalkeepers to have featured in at least 20 Premier League matches since the start of last season only two have a better save success rate than Butland (73%).
For more stats on Jack Butland, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
