For the first time this season, Lewis Baker is getting close to being selected after returning to full training.
The Stoke City midfielder, who led the squad the previous year, had knee surgery and missed almost the whole preseason. He has a long way to go before returning to full health. The 28-year-old is getting close, even if he might not be fit for the final two games before the next international break. He recently finished his first official practise with the first team group.
In a news conference on Thursday afternoon, Alex Neil stated, “Lewis trained with us today so that’s his first step back on the grass,” in front of this weekend’s home match against Cardiff. “He’s definitely making good progress, but it will take some time—it won’t happen in the next week or so.”
Tyrese Campbell, who had a hamstring injury in late September, is anticipated to return to full training the following week, a week early.
“He’s on the grass and doing well,” Neil remarked. Tye should be working with the squad the next week after Saturday, I would anticipate.
Due to a soggy pitch at Clayton Wood, Stoke’s under-21 match against Norwich on Monday night was cancelled. The team had intended to use the opportunity to provide senior players who needed more playing time some minutes. To the advantage of players like Ciaran Clark, Nikola Jojic, Junior Tchamadeu, and Bae Junho, who have been on the bench for the past several weeks, the club instead scheduled an internal game for Tuesday.
Ben Pearson and Ryan Mmaee will be evaluated by the fitness staff on Friday prior to the Cardiff game. At the conclusion of a three-game week, Pearson ran out of steam and was substituted in the first half of Middlesbrough’s match last Saturday. Mmaee was kept out of the game as a precaution after being reported to have “a little nick.”
Neil stated, “We’re hoping he should be fit, but we’ll see how (Pearson) is between now and the game.” Another one is Ryan Maaee; we’ll see how he does this week.
Jordan Thompson received his fifth booking of the year, earning him a suspension.
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