Late check for Stoke City key man ahead of Sheffield United trip Injury news as Stoke City prepare for a Championship game at Sheffield United.
Wouter Burger is to be assessed in a bespoke training session today to see if he can be passed fit to be involved for Stoke City at Sheffield United.
Burger missed a mid-week home draw with Bristol City with a foot problem but is hoping to be back in time to play a part at Bramall Lane on Saturday (3pm), whether that’s from the bench or from the start.
Head coach Narcis Pelach said: “Today he is going to train apart from the group and we will be able to see if he can manage the session we have prepared for him. After this we will decide if he cannot be available and we have to wait because this is too much risk to take, or if he is fit and feels like he can do it and we can play him maybe from the bench or maybe from the start. I’m not in a position to say that now because we have to wait for the training session to see.”
Sam Gallagher (hamstring), Bosun Lawal (back), Lynden Gooch (knee) and Ben Pearson (hamstring) remain in the treatment room at the moment during three consecutive three-game weeks which will test a young and tight squad.
Pelach has been pretty consistent with his starting XI in the Championship but is expected to give minutes to those on the fringes over the next few days too, particularly with a Carabao Cup trip to Southampton on Tuesday night.
Ashley Phillips, Tatsuki Seko, Sol Sidibe and Emre Tezgel are among the players hoping to take the chance to catch his eye and prove that not all answers have to be found in the transfer market.