Nearly a year on from suffering a double leg fracture during Stoke training, Stephen Ireland is yet to make his return to action for the club.
His recovery from the injury was initially expected last eight or nine months. However, the process has taken longer than hoped. The Corkman last played for Stoke when he came on as a sub against Crystal Palace last May.
Now 30, Ireland joined Stoke on loan from Aston Villa in September 2013, he would make the move permanent the following January.
Even before sustaining that broken leg last May in a training ground clash with Brazilian centre-back Dionatan Teixeira, Ireland's time at Stoke was hampered by injuries.
In his nearly four years as a Stoke player, Ireland has made 42 appearances in the Premier League. His contract with the club was due to run out this summer.
However, his career has been thrown a lifeline by Stoke and manager Mark Hughes.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of Stoke's game with Bournemouth this weekend, Hughes, quoted by the Stoke Sentinel, said the club would be offering Ireland a new short-term contract which would give him time to fully recover from the injury and possibly win a new deal.
I think it’s only fair and it’s the right thing to do.
He’s out of contract at the end of this season so we’re going to extend that clearly to give him the time to get back fit and well, so he can hopefully win another contract. The end of this season will come too soon for him so we will give him that extension he needs to recover.
Ireland played the best football of his career under Mark Hughes at Man City. It's easy to see how the Welshman continues to have faith in the player when many would have lost it long ago.
Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
