POTTERS SUFFER POWELL BLOW
Stoke wait for news after playmaker picks up knee injury in friendly clash
NICK Powell’s curse has struck again as the playmaker awaits assessment on a knee injury.
The 28-year-old had returned to fitness after a miserable 2021/22, when three injuries limited him to only 14 league starts, but pulled up in a behind closed doors friendly against Leeds United at Clayton Wood on Saturday and left on crutches.
The medical team has to wait for swelling to go down to deliver a firm verdict on just how long he can expect to be back in the treatment room.
He was left at home to start his recovery while the rest of the squad flew to Cork for a week-long training camp.
Assistant manager Dean Holden said: “Unfortunately Nick picked up a knee injury in the game on Saturday behind closed doors against Leeds United. We’re monitoring that and there’s no real timeframe on that just yet.
“He’s getting some treatment at the training ground and we’ll see how we get on.”
Powell was runaway player of the year in 2020/21 as he showed a scoring touch and stamina.
The 40 appearances that term was far and away the most he had played in a campaign in the nine years since his breakthrough year at Crewe Alexandra, the only other time he has played more than 3,000 minutes in a season.
A quad injury in August was followed by a fractured leg in October and another quad injury in March. In all, it meant that he was only able to start 14 league games.
He has been dogged by bad luck and averages just 1,476 minutes a season across his career, the equivalent of 16 and a half matches.
Central defender Harry Souttar is still recovering from anterior cruciate ligament damage he picked up on international duty with Australia in November.
The centre-back was hoping to be back in time to join in from the start of pre-season training but a little set-back delayed his return.
He is scheduled to fly over to Cork later this week and should be watching from the stands as the side has its first public friendly of the summer, against Cork City on Saturday afternoon.
Holden said: “Big Harry is continuing his rehab back at Clayton Wood at the moment but we’re hoping that towards the middle or end of the week that he’ll be able to come out and spend a couple of days with the squad.”
Stoke are doing double training sessions in Cork, where internationals Jacob Brown and Joe Bursik have joined back up with the group.
Holden said: “It’ll be a really good week for us, not just for the new players but the guys who have been here previously to really nail down.
“There are no distractions, it’s a fantastic facility that we’re going to and it just gives you that time among training sessions and in the evenings to really build relationships.
“That’s on the pitch and also the stuff off the pitch.
“You always come back from a training camp in a better situation. You can see that closeness and bonding take shape on a trip as well. It’s a trip we’re really excited about.”