Bojan Krkic 'very close' to Stoke return - Mark Hughes
Bojan Krkic could be included in Stoke's starting XI this weekend after boss Mark Hughes said he feels the Spaniard is close to delivering his pre-injury form.
The 25-year-old ex-Barcelona and Roma forward last began a Barclays Premier League game in January, when he got the winner against Leicester, who visit the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.
Later that month cruciate knee ligament damage finished a season in which he had scored five times in 18 appearances but - having featured in the Capital One Cup and as a substitute against Arsenal this term - Hughes believes Bojan is already near the levels he produced prior to his injury.
"He's been desperate to play for about five weeks," Hughes said.
"He's understanding of the fact that I'll pick him on merit, I'll pick him when I feel he's ready and I'll pick him when I feel he can have the same impact as he had prior to the injury. He's very, very close to that point.
"We're delighted that he's an option so early. We didn't really expect him to be in my thoughts at this stage given the injury that he had. As a consequence of how well he worked and the amount of work he put in, he deserves a lot of credit.
"We're delighted we're in the position we find ourselves in and I have the option to pick him if I want."
It may be eight months since Bojan last started a game for Hughes but the Welshman praised his "tenacity and drive" in getting himself fit again and believes those qualities will serve him well as he looks to kick-start winless Stoke's season.
"There was a lot of expectation on him because he had a huge impact for us," Hughes added.
"Everybody wants him to come back and make that immediate impact. If the timing of his comeback wasn't managed correctly, he wouldn't be in the position to come back and make the impact that we think he will do when he's back playing regularly."
Striker Mame Diouf is once again struggling with a hamstring issue and may miss the visit of the Foxes, although Glen Johnson has trained this week following a groin strain and captain Ryan Shawcross is jogging again after a back operation.
The Potters head into this weekend's slate of games occupying the bottom three along with fellow winless outfits Sunderland and Newcastle.
However, Hughes is relaxed over their slow start to the season which has included fixtures against Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.
"It's early days, we have no anxiety," Hughes said. "We know we're a good group of players and the first win will come, ideally at the weekend."
Meanwhile, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has praised his side for their fighting spirit - but warned they must stop falling behind in matches.
Ranieri's team have conceded the first goal in each of their last three Barclays Premier League fixtures, but have come back every time to maintain their unbeaten start to the season - none more dramatically than last weekend's 3-2 victory against Aston Villa.
"Coming back from behind might be exciting, but it is not good. Three times we go down, that is not good," said Ranieri, whose team travel to Stoke on Saturday.
"I would prefer to get in front and stay there than have to keep giving ourselves a problem. That is clear.
"But of course my knowledge is important. It is also important to say, 'Hey, be careful - three times down is not so good'.
"We have to be careful. My players have been incredible but I have warned them they can't continue to give teams a start because one day you will get punished.
"There is a very good spirit. They are characters. But I'm very curious - I want to see what they are like when something goes wrong.
"Every man can go to the ground, but I want to see when they pick themselves up. That is my focus."
Ranieri then joked that perhaps bribing his players with the promise of food might be the recipe to success as regards not conceding goals.
The affable Italian said: "I told them, if you keep a clean sheet, I'll buy pizza for everybody. I think they're waiting for me to offer a hot dog too!"
Nathan Dyer has been passed fit to be part of the Leicester squad that travels to the Potteries.
The winger, on loan from Swansea, has received the all-clear from the club's medical staff after suffering a heavy blow to the head in a collision with Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan as he headed the winning goal on his first Foxes appearance from the bench.
Source: PAR
