Whelan a doubt for Stoke

Glenn Whelan is a doubt for Stoke's Premier League match against Bournemouth as a result of the injury he picked up while on international duty.

Whelan limped out of the Republic of Ireland's 2018 World Cup qualifying win over Austria last weekend after sustaining a hamstring injury.

He was given an extra 24 hours off to aid his recovery but Stoke manager Mark Hughes admits he is facing a race to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday's clash with Bournemouth.

"We are hopeful that it may have settled down. He may have been compromised by some stiffness which we have managed to release him from," Hughes told his pre-match press conference.

"He is still a doubt though. We will see if we can get him out on the training pitch today.

"As a team we have a nice base at the moment and Glenn is important to that. We are stretched in the middle because Geoff Cameron is still injured too."

Meanwhile, Jack Butland is closing in on a return to action.

The goalkeeper has yet to play for Stoke this season after undergoing a second operation on a ankle injury in September but he is expected to return to training in the coming weeks.

"Jack is progressing really well," Hughes explained. "We had to get to the route of the problem and we understand that now. He isn't fully up to speed yet but we are hopeful that if he has a good week next week then he will be back within the senior group.

"We are encouraged by the last couple of weeks for him because previously he would get so far and then break down again.

"It's going to be difficult when he is back because Lee (Grant) has been fantastic."

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