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. 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.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. Down and out: Higginbotham suffered the injury during the clash with ChelseaStoke 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.'Hopefully he will return to training by the back end of pre-season but it's hard to be precise right now.'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.'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 Explore more:People: Tony Pulis, Danny Higginbotham