STOKE BANKING ON SHAW THING O’neill set to bring back skipper in bid for safety
STRUGGLING Stoke look set to call on skipper Ryan Shawcross to try to dig them out of the mire.
Potters boss Michael O’neill (above) could hand the longserving defender a start against Luton tonight – in what would be his first match back since breaking his leg in the summer.
Shawcross, 32, was carried off on a stretcher in the final pre-season friendly against Leicester in July and needed surgery on a broken fibula.
The big centre-half has been sorely missed as Stoke dropped to the foot of the Championship and they head into the clash with the Hatters on the back of three successive defeats.
O’neill says Shawcross is now staking a claim to be recalled after recovering from the horrific injury that initially threatened to wipe out his whole season.
The Northern Irishman said: “Ryan trained very well yesterday. I think, clearly, he has been missed.
“You look at the nature of the goals we concede and Ryan, with his experience and quality, will give us leadership at the back and that added quality as well.
“So hopefully he comes through and we can make a decision on whether he’s ready to start or not. I think when you have someone of Ryan’s leadership quality, on and off the pitch, just having him back in the 18 on Saturday was a boost. And having him back available will be a massive boost also.”
O’neill says no one will be feeling Stoke’s predicament more than their influential club captain after five months out.
He said: “Ryan has a presence about the place. He’s a voice on the training pitch and he’s been at the club the longest in terms of the playing staff we have.
“This situation will be hurting Ryan probably more than anyone, and it’s at times like these you need characters like him.”
O’neill began with a bang, winning his first two games after succeeding Nathan Jones but their latest slump leaves Stoke four points off safety.
He added: “I certainly don’t feel like a victim. I took the club on the basis that I could change what’s happening here.
“There’s issues to be sorted out within the squad, there’s no doubt about that, and that was the challenge when I came into the club and
I was fully aware of that.”