Bae Junho is hoping to be in contention for his first Stoke City start of the season after coming through the training week so far following his return to fitness.
The forward, who turned 21 yesterday, missed the last couple of pre-season friendlies due to a thigh injury that also ruled him out of the opening day win over Coventry and a Carabao Cup trip to Carlisle. He was used from the bench last weekend at Watford and now could be thrown on from the start against West Brom on Saturday (3pm).
Ryan Mmaee has been training with the first team squad too – and he scored for the under-21s in a Central League game on Tuesday as he clocks up minutes as he recovers from a knee injury that derailed his pre-season.
Enda Stevens (calf) could be back as soon as next week but is perhaps looking more like being eased back during the international break, when summer signing Sam Gallagher (calf) is also hoping to be back in training. Michael Rose (ankle) is bidding to be ready for selection in the first game after that break, away at Oxford.
Steven Schumacher said: “Ryan Mmaee played 45 minutes on Tuesday against Wrexham so that was good. He’s trained again this morning with the main group.
“Junho has got through training the first three days this week clean, which is a positive. Coming off a thigh injury you need to make sure he is durable. He’s come through that.
“I’ve just spoken to Sam Gallagher and Enda Stevens this afternoon. They’re really positive that they’re going in the right direction. Enda could potentially have some part to play in the Plymouth game but we have to assess if that’s wise because we’re going into an international break so it might be worth him getting an in-house game or some real good training in that time when we haven’t got a fixture. Sam is similar, probably a week behind Enda.
“On the injury front it looks like it’s improving. Michael Rose and he won’t be too far away certainly in the Oxford game. Ben Pearson is the major long-term one apart from that.”
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