Source: Daily_Mail
Danny Higginbotham serious knee injury ends FA Cup hopes and curtails season
Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham has suffered FA Cup semi-final heartache after discovering a cruciate knee ligament injury will keep him sidelined for up to six months. [LNB]Higginbotham picked up the injury in the closing stages of the 1-1 home draw against Chelsea on Saturday and will now miss the cup clash against Bolton at Wembley on April 17.[LNB]The 32-year-old signed a contract extension until June 2013 five months ago and was the Potters' hero after he scored the winner in the quarter-final victory against West Ham last month.[LNB] Down and out: Higginbotham suffered the injury during the clash with Chelsea[LNB]Stoke boss Tony Pulis told the Sentinel: 'It's a rupture and I'm devastated for the kid. It's a big blow for the team because Danny had just come back into the side and was doing so well.[LNB]'Hopefully he will return to training by the back end of pre-season but it's hard to be precise right now.[LNB]'We look after our own at this this club, so once he gets over the shock of the injury, Danny knows he will be getting the best possible care and treatment.[LNB]'He's been such a great servant to the club and is so popular with the fans and with good reason. With the back end to the season we've got coming up, it's a really depressing thing to happen.' VIDEO: Chelsea's Drogba in row with fan after lacklustre draw at Stoke CityWe don't want England rejects, blasts Republic of Ireland's Lawrence Stoke 1 Chelsea 1: Potters dent wobbling Blues' fading title hopesAll the latest Stoke news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Tony Pulis, Danny Higginbotham
