The Potters captain is expected to be out long-term following surgery on a broken leg.
A number of Stoke City fans have taken to Twitter to wish Ryan Shawcross all the best in his recovery from a broken leg after the Potters captain issued an emotional message published by the club website.
The 31-year-old was taken off in Stoke’s final pre-season friendly of 2019-20, against Leicester City on Saturday, and according to the Stoke Sentinel, he is expected to be out until at least Christmas with a broken fibula, though the club has not officially put a timescale on his recovery.
During the game at the Bet365 Stadium, centre-back Shawcross was forced to leave the field on a stretcher shortly before the half-time interval after landing awkwardly on his left ankle whilst attempting to keep the ball in play.
On Tuesday morning, the club posted a statement from the veteran which read: “It’s been a very difficult couple of days coming to terms with the injury, and the timing of it, but I have been so touched by the messages of support and goodwill I have received from so many people within the game. I have been inundated with messages from current and former teammates, fellow professionals, Stoke City supporters and so many others over the past 48 hours, and I can’t thank them all enough for that.
“The biggest thank you however has to go to the medical staff here at Stoke City Football Club and the doctors and nurses who cared for me so well and professionally at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. As I said before, it has been a difficult few days, but with the help and the support of so many people, I am now looking forward with real optimism as I embark upon my road to recovery, which will enable me to get back out there doing what I love on the pitch.”
Here is what some Potters fans wrote on social media in response:
Shawcross, who won an England cap in 2012, has been with Stoke since the summer of 2007 and has played 414 times for the Staffordshire club.
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