Huth set for short layoff after surgery

Robert Huth has undergone successful exploratory surgery.
The German centre half could be back in the red and white stripes in three to four weeks, just in time for the hectic Christmas fixture schedule.

Mark Hughes told Sky Sports: “We’re really pleased. It’s as good as we could have hoped for. We didn’t know the extent of the injury until the surgeon actually went in and had a look.

‘He found an issue with the knee that needed addressing and repairing and that’s been done. By all accounts prior to the operation, the best-case scenario was what we found.

‘Thankfully, if everything goes well, he could be back in three or four weeks.

‘Knowing Robert, he continues to surprise me in terms of how well he gets back from little niggles and he will always put his hand up if there’s any opportunity to play.
‘That’s a great trait that he has. Maybe in the past it has been to his detriment because he’s probably played and compromised himself.’

The 29-year-old missed Stoke`s embarrassing 4-0 defeat away at Everton at the weekend, but Mark Hughes has admitted that his absence wasn`t behind the defeat.

The Stoke gaffer told Sky Sports: ‘It’s too easy and too convenient to say that because we didn’t have Robert that was the reason we got beat.

‘There were other parts of our game we didn’t execute well enough. You’ll always miss Robert’s experience and his presence, and he comes across to the opposition as a huge barrier to overcome.’