Marc Wilson

[paul_oshea]

There is a simple reason why Ward is in the championship, mid level and Wilson is playing in a mid level Premiership team, week in, week out, over the last few seasons. Hopefully Andy Wilkinson doesn't do too well.

[DeLorean]

Wilkinson is a good solid player and tough out. Wouldn't have as much football as Wilson though.

[tetsujin1979]

tweeted this earlier: https://twitter.com/wildog87/status/263967131471839232

Just out of surgery. Thank god that's over. The whole medical team where different class and done a great job.

and (in reply to @larrythelurker who wanted to know how long he'll be out) https://twitter.com/wildog87/status/263979308761112576

8 to 12 weeks

So, that's more or less the end of January

[DeLorean]

That's great news.

[DeLorean]

Ah no if he has only done fibula cleanly then 4 months would be the worst case scenario and more likely 3.its when u do the tibia /fibula compo you r in real bother.best of luck to him

Good call Liamoo.

Who says 3 months? No way. Sorry to be pessimistic but no way.

Not so much

[paul_oshea]

I think we should be ok for him to be back in quicker than is normally expected. I think nowadays with all the medical advances, fitness regime, nutrition etc, that players recuperate quicker than they used to and its more down to the individual. He should be fine for March maybe even the friendly in February.

[paul_oshea]

Geysir V Tony Pulis

"I think he has probably been our most consistent player this year - he is a very underrated lad and we will miss him because he has great quality."

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-n...n-3280078.html

Bring back Stephen Ward

[tricky_colour]

tweeted this earlier: https://twitter.com/wildog87/status/263967131471839232

and (in reply to @larrythelurker who wanted to know how long he'll be out) https://twitter.com/wildog87/status/263979308761112576

So, that's more or less the end of January

Surgery would seem to indicated it's a bit more than a simple break, ie having to reconstruct the bone
however it might be different for professional footballers, when it's so important it heals up well.

I'd be surprise if he is back in 8 weeks but I expect if you are really fit things tend to heal up faster, and
obviously they will be getting the very best treatment and physio etc

[IsMiseSean]

Ideally it would be great to see him back in the Stoke team with a few games under his belt before Sweden & Austria.

[paul_oshea]

Surgery would seem to indicated it's a bit more than a simple break, ie having to reconstruct the bone
however it might be different for professional footballers, when it's so important it heals up well.

I'd be surprise if he is back in 8 weeks but I expect if you are really fit things tend to heal up faster, and
obviously they will be getting the very best treatment and physio etc

Perhaps he got a metal fixture in there? Doubtful more likely that the bone wouldn't reset properly as it was so need to be moved back into place.

[tricky_colour]

Perhaps he got a metal fixture in there? Doubtful more likely that the bone wouldn't reset properly as it was so need to be moved back into place.

I expect they take no risks with a footballer and put a plate in whether they need one or not.
Although it is quite remarkable how a bone manages to heal itself. I remember when I broke my collar bone the
was a clear gap of at least 1/4 of an inch, I didn't have any surgery or anything like that, just a simple sling.
Somehow it managed to grow a big lump of over it, pull it back together and reshape the bone so you would never
know it was broken. And all without any conscious effort or input on my part. (which is just as well).

[Charlie Darwin]

Is a plate the better option for an athlete? I'd have thought the ideal in terms of mobility etc would be for the bone to heal fully.

[tetsujin1979]

back on the bench today for Stoke away to Man City, at least three weeks ahead of schedule

[IsMiseSean]

back on the bench today for Stoke away to Man City, at least three weeks ahead of schedule

Great news!!

[liamoo11]

Great news!!

R u sure?

[Paddy Garcia]

Not according to the BBC!!

Stoke City
01 Begovic
02 Cameron
04 Huth Booked
17 Shawcross
28 Wilkinson
06 Whelan
15 Nzonzi Booked
16 Adam (Whitehead - 68' )
09 Jones (Etherington - 50' )
19 Walters
33 Jerome
Substitutes
29 Sorensen
20 Upson
30 Shotton
18 Whitehead
21 Kightly
26 Etherington
25 Crouch

[tetsujin1979]

sorry, my mistake. Sky Sports had him on the bench on the scorecentre before kick off.

[the bear]

Thats an amazing recovery. Hopefully no setbacks for him.

[IsMiseSean]

So he's not back from injury yet??

[DannyInvincible]

Doesn't appear to be. Can't find any report saying he's ready for first team action just yet.

His Twitter account suggests he has been back in training since the 3rd of December (possibly earlier): https://twitter.com/wildog87