POTTERS ARE HIT BY INJURY BLOW AFTER ALLEN’S WALES SETBACK

JOE Allen has added to Stoke City’s injury problems after his long-awaited international comeback ended after just seven minutes.

The 31-year-old midfielder had not played for Wales since November 2019 when he ran out against Belgium on Wednesday night.

But he was nursing a tight muscle in his leg that forced his withdrawal from Stoke’s win over Derby last weekend and it flared up almost immediately.

Wales coach Rob Page said: “It seems to be behind the back of his knee. The top of his calf, maybe the bottom of his hamstring.

“So we’re not quite sure yet. But he’s with the medical team now.”

Stoke have been hoping that Sam Clucas, Jordan Cousins and Tashan Oakleyboothe will be back available following the international break - possibly at Bristol City on Good Friday - and Morgan Fox (hamstring) should not be too far behind. James Mcclean also made a late appearance for Republic of Ireland is a World Cup qualifying defeat in Serbia, having not played for Stoke for more than a month due to a foot problem.

Tyrese Campbell (knee) and Nathan Collins (foot) are out for the season but January signing Alfie Doughty is keen to get on the pitch for his new club for the first time before the summer. Michael O’neill said: “Alfie’s one that if we got him back before the end of the season it would be a bonus. “People will ask why we signed an injured player – we signed him because he’s 21 years of age, we felt he’s got enormous potential and his contract situation meant that if we didn’t do the deal in January we wouldn’t be able to do it.

“There would have been a lot of other interest, particularly cross-border interest. “We were in a situation in January when we had to act, knowing it was for the longterm.

“And the other thing was that the player was keen to come here. That was important.

“In the summer it would have looked different and possibly Alfie would have ended up at a club north of the border.

“If we can get him back for a few games before the end of the season, great, but the most important thing is that we have him fit and ready to go for the start of next season.”