Stoke City defender Marc Muniesa has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a torn hamstring.

The 22-year-old might not play again until April after suffering the problem in Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

"We feared it was a really bad one," Potters assistant Mark Bowen told BBC Radio Stoke. "He had a scan and they've come back saying it's four to six weeks."

It leaves Stoke short of options at the back, with Ryan Shawcross also out with a back problem, Robert Huth on loan at Leicester City and Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters doubts for this weekend's game against Aston Villa.

Written by
Pascal Lemesre