Stephen Ireland Breaks Leg In Training

 

Stoke midfielder Stephen Ireland has suffered a broken leg during a training session on Tuesday morning. It is a big blow for the 29-year-old Irishman who has featured in 16 games this season for the Potters.

On the club's website, a statement stated Ireland would now be facing an "extended spell on the sidelines saying “The club wishes Stephen a speedy recovery and will offer him all the support he requires as he undergoes his rehabilitation”.

Ireland signed from Aston Villa in 2014 for £8m having had loan spells at Newcastle and Stoke. After a month on the sidelines, Ireland came off the bench at the weekend in Stoke's 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace. He has been hampered by hamstring-related problems for much of this season and has yet to start a Premier League match. His three starts this campaign have all been in the cup competitions.

The former Manchester City trainee is about to enter the final year of his contract at the Britannia Stadium, but it now remains to be seen how much of that he will be available to play. It is not the first time Ireland has suffered a serious leg injury. Towards the end of last season, he was on the receiving end of a challenge from Hull defender Maynor Figueroa which left him with a deep gash.

After the game, Stoke boss Mark Hughes claimed his player needed 12-15 stitches in the wound and that Figueroa's tackle could have ended Ireland's career. The final game of the campaign for Hughes' side is at home against West Ham on Sunday afternoon.