STOKE V GILLINGHAM 7PM

WALES star Joe Allen’s battle to recover from Achilles tendon surgery during the Covid lockdown could have been worse, says Stoke manager Michael O’Neill. The midfielder ruptured his Achilles tendon in what proved to be Stoke’s last game before football stopped and he is still battling back after six months. But O’Neill, preparing his side for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Gillingham, said: “I suppose the one thing you can say about it is, he’s missed less football.”