Stoke City confirm Geoff Cameron is to undergo hernia surgery
Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron faces an extended period on the sidelines after the club confirmed he is to undergo hernia surgery.
The United States international has featured just once for Stoke this season, in a Capital One Cup victory over Portsmouth, but was forced off before half-time in that game.
Cameron played at the World Cup during the summer, despite struggling with the injury since last season, but the club have decided that he needs surgery to cure the nagging problem.
"It's been troubling him for a while, so the time has come for an operation," assistant manager Mark Bowen said.
"He started feeling it last season, then obviously went to the World Cup and came back to us still feeling a bit sore.
"These things tend to manifest themselves over a period of months and now the time has come, but it's difficult to say how long we will lose him for."
Nigerian international Peter Odemwingie was omitted from Stoke's 25-man Premier League squad after he underwent an operation on damaged knee ligaments.
Bowen revealed the forward has yet to begin his rehabilitation, but confirmed the surgery was a success and remains optimistic about the player’s recovery time.
"The operation seems to have gone well, which is obviously great news and it always helps a recovery when you've got someone of Peter's great spirits," Bowen said.
There was more positive news for the Potters as midfielder Stephen Ireland has returned to training after he sustained a rib injury last month.
"He (Ireland) came through training okay and if he isn't ready for this weekend, then I'm sure he'll be banging on the door for the weekend after," said Bowen.