Rowett to make late decision over Clucas fitness

Posted Friday, November 02, 2018 by PA

Stoke boss Gary Rowett will make a late decision on Sam Clucas ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Middlesbrough.

Clucas is yet to make his debut for the club after arriving from Swansea during the summer with a knee injury, but is back in training and pushing for a debut.

Fellow midfielder Peter Etebo is also back in training after a hamstring injury, while striker Mame Diouf is close to joining him following his recovery from a similar problem.

Rowett has several other players carrying small injuries but has not identified any of them.

Middlesbrough counterpart Tony Pulis will be without central defender Daniel Ayala through suspension on his return to his former club.

The 27-year-old picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-1 draw with Derby last Saturday and will sit out as a result.

Fellow defender Ryan Shotton is closing in on a return from a knee problem which has sidelined him for the last three games, but midfielder Sam McQueen’s knee injury continues to be assessed after he was carried off on a stretcher during Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace.

Pulis made eight changes for that game and is likely to revert to his strongest line-up once again as his third-placed side attempt to close the gap on leaders Sheffield United, although several players have been affected by a bug this week.