Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that Ryan Shawcross will be sidelined for around four weeks with a back complaint.
The skipper picked up the injury during the 3-0 defeat away at Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.
"Unfortunately he has some muscle damage and at the moment it looks likely that he'll be out for three to four weeks," Hughes told reporters ahead of his side's League Cup semi-final second leg away at Liverpool.
As well as the trip to Merseyside, Shawcross may also miss games against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Everton, Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
