Bae Junho is set to miss Stoke City’s mid-week Carabao Cup match against Carlisle United, with hopes that he might be fit for the following weekend. The 20-year-old, who was named Stoke’s Player of the Season, was sidelined from the season opener against Coventry due to a quad injury sustained during a pre-season cool-down at Stockport two weeks earlier. His importance to the team has been emphasized by Steven Schumacher, who is cautious about risking his return too early. However, the playmaker is aiming to make his comeback in next Saturday’s Championship match against Watford. Schumacher explained that the Coventry game came too soon for Bae, despite him participating in some light training on Thursday and Friday. He reiterated the decision to give Bae more time to regain fitness, acknowledging that Tuesday’s match is also likely too soon for his return.
Jack Bonham also missed the Coventry match due to a wrist injury sustained in training. The backup goalkeeper, who was expected to play against Carlisle, is currently being assessed after visiting a specialist. Schumacher shared that Bonham injured his wrist while making a save in training on Tuesday, prompting an x-ray on Friday that revealed a minor issue. Though Bonham was eager to train on Friday, the medical team advised against it until the full extent of the injury is known, which is still under investigation.
In addition to Bae and Bonham, several other Stoke players are dealing with injuries. Enda Stevens (calf), Michael Rose (ankle), Ben Pearson (hamstring), and Sam Gallagher (calf) are all receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Ryan Mmaee has returned from a knee injury and tonsillitis, making it to the bench in Saturday’s game.