Football
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Stoke City injury woes don't surprise Mark Hughes

Stoke manager Mark Hughes feels it is little surprise the number of injuries in his squad has started to mount up -- and admits the Potters can ill afford any further casualties.

The Staffordshire outfit had seven senior players unavailable for Wednesday's 4-1 Premier League loss to Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium due to fitness problems.

Hughes believes the nature of the last couple of months, in which Stoke have also faced the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in a hectic fixture schedule, has taken an inevitable toll on his group.

Nonetheless, they have been in good form, losing only three times in the last 11 games in all competitions, with six matches ending in victory.

And Hughes is crossing his fingers that the chances of further progress are not jeopardised by any more injury setbacks.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round away clash with Sky Bet Championship outfit Blackburn, Hughes -- whose side are 10th in the top flight -- said of the injuries: "They all seem to have come at the same time of the season.

"And maybe it is not a coincidence, because we have just come through a really tough period for games in terms of the Christmas schedule and the quality of our opposition.

"Maybe we have had a little bit of reaction -- we've come through that period with a good number of points, but along the way we have lost a few players.

"The key on Wednesday was not losing any more, and it looks like that was the case.

"We don't really want to be picking up any more injuries, and the longer we are able to steer clear, the better."

One of those who sat out Wednesday's contest was Jonathan Walters due to an ongoing knee complaint.

Stoke are trying their best to manage the problem and Hughes is hopeful the 31-year-old forward will be able to play against Blackburn, the former club of both men.

The manager is also optimistic Walters will not need surgery and that the issue will be resolved by rest over the summer.

Hughes said of his 10-goal top-scorer: "We are managing Jon -- he is usually sore immediately after games, then after a couple of days it settles down and he is fine to play.

"But obviously playing three games in a week was a little bit too much to ask.

"We are hopeful [about Saturday] -- he hasn't trained yet, but he'll train today [Friday].

"It just needs managing we feel. I think there are things we can do, procedures that are out there, that will settle things down.

"Then, once he gets the required rest, which will probably come in the summer, hopefully that will resolve it by itself.

"We are not at that point yet [of considering an operation]."

Erik Pieters (hernia) has an outside chance of featuring on Saturday, but fellow defenders Ryan Shawcross (back) and Marc Wilson (groin) and midfielder Stephen Ireland (hamstring) are not yet ready to make their returns from injury. Forwards Bojan Krkic and Peter Odemwingie (both knee) are on the long-term casualty list.

Jack Butland is to get a run-out in goal, with regular number one Asmir Begovic being rested, while Oliver Shenton -- the 17-year-old midfielder who made his Premier League debut on Wednesday, two days on from his mother's funeral -- will once again be part of the squad.

Hughes is eager for 2011 finalists Stoke, one of only 10 Premier League clubs left in the FA Cup this year, to make decent progress in a competition that has brought him plenty of success.

As well as winning it four times as a player, ex-Blackburn striker Hughes guided Rovers to two semifinals during his stint as their manager between 2004 and 2008.

The Welshman, who retains plenty of affection for Blackburn, said of his current club: "It is a competition we feel we have a realistic chance of winning.

"And I think if we can overcome Blackburn, we can start thinking maybe and getting a little bit excited about where it might take us.

"But first and foremost we have to focus on this game against a good side."

Blackburn, ninth in the Championship, defeated Premier League opposition at home in the last round, seeing off Swansea 3-1.

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