Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that Asmir Begovic is likely to miss the next six weeks with a broken finger.
The Bosnian goalkeeper, who has recently been struggling with a thigh complaint missed yesterday's 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United after suffering the injury in training on Christmas Day.
"Asmir could be out for five to six weeks," Hughes told reporters. "He did it right at the end of training yesterday and it's quite a bad break.
"We hope he's back sooner than predicted but we're going to be without him for a while."
Thomas Sorensen filled in for Begovic at St James' Park, while England international Jack Butland was on the bench after being recalled from his loan spell at Barnsley.
