Stoke missing Ryan Shawcross for opening-day clash with QPR

Posted Thursday, August 01, 2019 by PA

Skipper Ryan Shawcross is an injury absentee for Stoke ahead of their opening game of the season against QPR.

The central defender suffered a broken fibula during a pre-season friendly against Leicester last week and faces around four months out after undergoing surgery.

Summer signing Liam Lindsay is the obvious replacement for Shawcross but he is suspended following a red card in his last match for Barnsley at the end of the last campaign. Therefore, Bruno Martins Indi will probably partner Danny Batth at the heart of the defence.

While Lindsay is unavailable, fellow new arrivals Adam Davies, Jordan Cousins, Lee Gregory, Nick Powell, Stephen Ward and Tommy Smith are in contention to make their debuts.

QPR are likely to begin their Championship campaign without left-back Lee Wallace.

The summer signing, who previously played under new Hoops boss Mark Warburton at Rangers, has missed much of pre-season with a hip problem.

However, Liam Kelly, Yoann Barbet, Luke Amos, Matt Smith, Dominic Ball, Conor Masterson, Marc Pugh and Todd Kane should all be available to feature, having all joined the club over the summer.

The trip to Stoke will be Warburton’s first game in charge after he was appointed as Steve McClaren’s successor in May.