Stoke sweating on Galbraith’s fitness after being forced off during international duty

Stoke City are checking on the fitness of midfielder Ethan Galbraith after he limped off during international duty with Northern Ireland.

Galbraith was taken off during the second half of Northern Ireland’s Nations League clash against Georgia, appearing to hold the back of his leg.

Ahead of their clash against Bolton on Saturday, Potters head coach Mark Robins says they will have to wait and see on the 25-year-old’s fitness.

“Nothing to report at the minute, I really have to wait until I see him but I’m told it was cramp both by the player and the medical staff. I want to see today before I make comment and there’s nothing I can do until then.”

This has been a busy period for all of the players who went on international duty, who have played around ten matches for Stoke, before featuring three to four times for their respective nations. After Bolton, Robins’ side face off against Middlesbrough before travelling to play Derby County.

He added: “We’ve got fingers crossed today and we hope the medical staff give the thumbs up from medical staff at the end of it. That’s just how it is. Every international is very similar except this one they’ve compressed another two games into it.

“The first week they went away, Scotland away in Spain, and it was a really intense period for them I’m sure.

“It’s important to gauge where they are at mentally and physically because they’ve got to be able to go again. You’ve got three big games in a week.”

Stoke head into this weekend’s action in seventh place, with Bolton down in 15th.