Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross has claimed that he is on the mend following successful back surgery, but is unable to estimate when he will be back for the Potters.
The 27-year-old had an operation at the start of August, having aggravated an injury that caused him to miss the final six weeks of last season.
Shawcross told BBC Sport: "I went to see one of the best spinal experts in the world, and I'm pretty pleased with how it's gone. I've started jogging and am swimming a lot. It's a step in the right way.
"You don't want to rush too much as you can end up putting yourself out for a long time. Especially with the spine, you have to be very careful."
Stoke sit 18th in the Premier League table with two points from four games.
