Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross is nearing a return from injury and could play against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The centre-back has been out of action for over a month with a back injury, but he has returned to training and could be rushed straight into the starting lineup.
Assistant manager Mark Bowen told The Sentinel: "Ryan trained and I suppose if I'm being honest he's working at about 70%. He did everything expected of him, but he's just getting through the session with one eye on thinking how he's going to feel in the morning.
"Hopefully, he will turn up ready to go on Thursday and, if he does that, he's going to be in the frame to start Saturday."
Marc Wilson and Philipp Wollscheid have developed a partnership at the heart of Stoke's defence in Shawcross's absence.
