Stoke City assistant boss Mark Bowen has revealed that Potters skipper Glenn Whelan picked up a back injury earlier this week after "getting out of his car".

According to Bowen, the Republic of Ireland international "felt something crack in his back" while stepping out of his vehicle, which has made the 32-year-old a doubt for Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.

"He did it, very simply, getting out of his car. People who've had bad backs will tell you how it can happen. He didn't do anything untoward; he just got out of the car and felt something crack in his back. That was it," Bowen told the Stoke Sentinel.

Whelan has featured in all 32 of Stoke's Premier League games this season, but Bowen added that the midfielder would be 'monitored' ahead of this weekend's league game at Anfield.