Ryan will get proper send-off one day

RYAN SHAWCROSS will bid an emotional farewell to Stoke today – but he will be back. Stoke are to make a presentation to their now former skipper before the clash with Luton – and talks of a testimonial and a proper send-off to mark his 14

STOKE 3PM years at the club will be held once things return to normal.

The 33-year-old has cancelled his contract by mutual consent so he can join David Beckham’s Inter Miami in MLS.

Shawcross, left, made 453 appearances for the Potters

V LUTON

but has battled with injuries since breaking his leg in the summer of 2019.

Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “The one big sadness is that he doesn’t get the send-off from 30,000 people in the stadium, showing how much he has meant to them over the last 14 years. It would be good to be able to do that at some time.”

Manager Michael O’Neill said: “Before I came to Stoke City the one player you immediately associated with the club when it came up in conversation was Ryan, simply because of the length of time he spent here.”

SOUTHAMPTON V CHELSEA

12.30PM, BT SPORT

RALPH HASENHUTTL says he will need “the perfect game plan” to outwit the Bundesliga brains trust leading Chelsea’s revival.

The Southampton boss clashed with Thomas Tuchel four times in Germany when the latter was managing Dortmund, losing three games and winning one. And there is the added complication for Saints of a spy in the camp in the shape of Tuchel’s assistant Zsolt Low. Hungarian Low spent two years as Hasenhuttl’s right-hand man at RB Leipzig before following Tuchel to PSG.

“It is going to be very difficult for us because he knows our shape very well. He knows everything about it,” said Hasenhuttl of Low.

“We are going to need a perfect game plan and a very passionate performance.”

Chelsea are unbeaten under Tuchel, drawing one and winning their past four.

And the new Blues chief has opened the door for Olivier Giroud to stay at the club next season.

The striker, 34, is out of contract at the end of this campaign and was expected to leave Stamford Bridge.

But Tuchel said: “I am super happy that he is here. He is one of the top strikers in the penalty area.

“He is physically strong, he has an incredible first touch and is very strong on headers. Olivier is also a key figure because of the way he behaves.”