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This is Staffordshire --
STOKE City's hierarchy admit there will be a question mark over the condition of half-a-dozen potential starters at Everton on Saturday because of international commitments tonight.
Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters have concerns over their ankle and back respectively, despite being named alongside Marc Wilson as starters in Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria in Dublin.
Geoff Cameron and Brek Shea are in America for their qualifier against Mexico, Charlie Adam is in Serbia with Scotland and Kenwyne Jones has to travel home from Peru following a friendly there for Trinidad & Tobago.
"It's a case of keeping your fingers crossed that they don't get injured, then hope the travelling doesn't leave them too tired," said assistant manager Dave Kemp, pictured below.
"Poor old Kenwyne has a longer trip after his game in Peru, so that's as far away as it could be."
Whelan is down to start for Ireland against Austria after recent ankle trouble, while Walters is also named despite requiring treatment for back problems.
Kemp continued: "It's good news if Glenn is now fit to play, but until our medical people look at him we don't know the true state of his fitness.
"The games won't do Marc Wilson any harm because he's been out injured for so long until recently, but we are concerned about Glenn and Jon Walters.
"They've both gone a long period without a break when you think of last season, playing for Ireland in the Euros last summer and then playing every international break.
"Jon, especially, is a very fit lad, but he's only human and could do with a rest between our games."
Kemp himself has returned from his scouting trip to East Europe to check on at least one international player.
He declined to comment on reports linking Stoke to FC Copenhagen's Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius.
The 20 year-old – who measures in at around six foot, four inches – justified recent attention in his services by grabbing a goal in Denmark's World Cup qualifying victory in the Czech Republic last Friday.
Asmir Begovic is back at Stoke, meanwhile, after helping Bosnia to a home win over qualifying rivals Greece four days ago.
And he reaffirmed his commitment to Stoke amid interest from the likes of Manchester United by stating: "I'm pleased that the big clubs are interested in me, but I'm happy at Stoke because they gave me a chance to play in the Premier League.
"We will see what happens in the summer. In football you can never know 100 per cent." Reported by This is 3 hours ago.
Clik here to view.
This is Staffordshire --STOKE City's hierarchy admit there will be a question mark over the condition of half-a-dozen potential starters at Everton on Saturday because of international commitments tonight.
Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters have concerns over their ankle and back respectively, despite being named alongside Marc Wilson as starters in Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria in Dublin.
Geoff Cameron and Brek Shea are in America for their qualifier against Mexico, Charlie Adam is in Serbia with Scotland and Kenwyne Jones has to travel home from Peru following a friendly there for Trinidad & Tobago.
"It's a case of keeping your fingers crossed that they don't get injured, then hope the travelling doesn't leave them too tired," said assistant manager Dave Kemp, pictured below.
"Poor old Kenwyne has a longer trip after his game in Peru, so that's as far away as it could be."
Whelan is down to start for Ireland against Austria after recent ankle trouble, while Walters is also named despite requiring treatment for back problems.
Kemp continued: "It's good news if Glenn is now fit to play, but until our medical people look at him we don't know the true state of his fitness.
"The games won't do Marc Wilson any harm because he's been out injured for so long until recently, but we are concerned about Glenn and Jon Walters.
"They've both gone a long period without a break when you think of last season, playing for Ireland in the Euros last summer and then playing every international break.
"Jon, especially, is a very fit lad, but he's only human and could do with a rest between our games."
Kemp himself has returned from his scouting trip to East Europe to check on at least one international player.
He declined to comment on reports linking Stoke to FC Copenhagen's Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius.
The 20 year-old – who measures in at around six foot, four inches – justified recent attention in his services by grabbing a goal in Denmark's World Cup qualifying victory in the Czech Republic last Friday.
Asmir Begovic is back at Stoke, meanwhile, after helping Bosnia to a home win over qualifying rivals Greece four days ago.
And he reaffirmed his commitment to Stoke amid interest from the likes of Manchester United by stating: "I'm pleased that the big clubs are interested in me, but I'm happy at Stoke because they gave me a chance to play in the Premier League.
"We will see what happens in the summer. In football you can never know 100 per cent." Reported by This is 3 hours ago.
