Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross is to undergo back surgery and will be out for at least two months.
Reoccurrence of back injury
The centre-back is to have the back operation next week after suffering with a reoccurrence of the back problem that troubled him last season.
The 27-year-old missed six weeks last season with back trouble and he has played just over an hour during pre-season because of the problem.
Stoke had hoped surgery would "not be necessary" and that the summer break would solve the problem.
However, the club said in a statement that "the harder Shawcross pushed himself in pre-season the more discomfort he found himself in, leaving no alternative but for him to undergo the operation."
A big loss for the Potters
This is a big loss for Stoke just a few days before the start of the season. Shawcross has been a key player for the Potters ever since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2008.
The defender, who has one cap for England, has made 319 appearances in eight years at the Britannia Stadium and he has helped Stoke to 74 clean sheets in their seven seasons in the top-flight.
Shawcross has been the captain of Stoke since 2010 and he has become one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League.
However, Stoke coped without their captain last season as in the five Premier League matches Shawcross missed, Stoke won three, drew one and lost once (against Manchester City), conceding six goals and keeping two clean sheets in the process.
Which matches will he miss?
Shawcross will miss Stoke's Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday, together with away fixtures at Tottenham and Arsenal and clashes against newly promoted Norwich and Bournemouth. He will also miss home fixtures against West Brom and Leicester but he could be back for the clash against Aston Villa on 3 October.
Mark Hughes will now have to pick two from Marc Wilson, Marc Muniesa, Phillip Wollscheid and Geoff Cameron to partner each other at the centre of defence over the next two months.
However, Hughes may now try and bring in another central defender before the transfer window closes on Tuesday 1 September.
