Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed that Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron will not play against Liverpool on Tuesday.
Bardsley has been out since early November, having injured his knee in a collision with Jack Wilshere during a match against Bournemouth, while Cameron suffered a knee injury as well, and has been out since October. Marko Arnautovic will also miss the fixture, still suspended after his red card against Southampton earlier this month.
Hughes has said that neither of the two will be available during the festive period, and has revealed that Bardsley is set to remain on the sidelines for six more weeks.
Phil Bardsley is still a few weeks away, although he is progressing well,� he said via the club'sofficial website.
We put a five to six week time scale on the injury when he picked it up and he is about four weeks into that now.
Geoff Cameron is another one who isn't going to be available to us over the festive period although, like Phil, he is progressing.
He has a schedule and a plan that he is working to, which is helping him, and hopefully it won't be too long until we are able to welcome him back.�
There was good news, however. The manager revealed that winger Ibrahim Afellay was fully fit ahead of the clash - the Dutch attacker suffered knee ligament damage back in April, but is finally ready to return, having played 60 minutes with the club's Under-23's last week.
Ibi played last week and came through the game strongly, so he is now back in the squad and available for selection,� Hughes declared with pleasure.
I am delighted he has come back as strongly as he has because he suffered a really bad injury. He looks like the old Afellay which is tremendous because usually when players come back they are a little apprehensive.�