Former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel will certainly not be involved for Stoke City when they take on Derby County at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday evening.
Though the central midfielder is making progress on his recovery from injury, the trip to Derby has come too soon for him.
Providing a fitness update at Friday's press conference, Potters manager Michael O’Neill stated : "It’ll be too soon for John Obi Mikel and Tyrese (Campbell) with the knee injury he has picked up is going to rule him out of tomorrow."
Mikel has been a pivotal figure since joining Stoke
City as a free agent in the summer transfer window and was in the best
form, starting fourteen consecutive matches in the Championship, prior to his spell on the sidelines.
The Northern Irishman added : "I think when people saw we brought in players like Steven Fletcher and
Obi-Mikel and James Chester, they were all free agents but they have
been massive in terms of the types of character they are, and that’s
been a big plus as well."
Stoke City are aiming to keep their fourth consecutive away clean sheet against Wayne Rooney's Derby County.
Their marque summer signing Mikel has not figured for the club since the goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday, missing three matches against Wycombe, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
Igho Kingsley
Photo Credit : stokecityfc.com
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