ROWETT BULLISH ABOUT WINGER INCE
STOKE boss Gary Rowett is confident Tom Ince will not face an extended spell on the sidelines following a hernia operation.
Ince completed the full 90 minutes of the goalless draw against Middlesbrough last Saturday, but has been troubled by the problem for a few weeks.
The 26-year-old underwent surgery on Tuesday and missed the trip to Nottingham Forest, but Rowett hopes Ince could recover in time to be involved again following the international break.
“It’s only a small procedure and so he should be back training within a week to 10 days and back playing after a couple of weeks,” Rowett said.
“We just had a decision. Do we play him against Forest and then have the operation the week after, which makes it difficult for him then to be fit for the two home games? No, we would rather he misses one away game.”
Rowett revealed Ince had been playing through the pain barrier as the Potters look to kick-start their Championship campaign.
“He just feels it’s been inhibiting him a little bit in terms of the last little bit of the explosive side of his performance,” he said.
“You probably couldn’t tell, but Incey hasn’t had that little bit to get away from opponents, but he’s still been a threat, still been dangerous.”
Despite the loss of the winger, Rowett is confident Stoke have enough strength in depth to cover.
“We have got other good players,” he said. “I don’t think numbers is necessarily our issue.
“The more options you have, the better. It means you are going to have to leave out some really good players, even from the matchday 18, but the reality is that it’s about putting the best possible team onto the pitch and me trying to get the decision right.”