Whelan relishing return for Potters

Republic of Ireland international midfielder Glenn Whelan has revealed he defied medical opinion to return to action from a broken leg for Stoke City ahead of schedule.

Whelan, who hopes to start against Liverpool today was told he would be missing for eight to 10 weeks when he was injured in Ireland’s 1-1 draw against Germany on October 14.

He said: “I was told it could be anywhere from eight to 10 weeks. So to come back in four is great.

“The fracture was a freak where it was, and in a lucky spot. It’s obviously taken a little bit of time, but I’ve been training the last couple of weeks and am looking to get back into the team now.

“It was a block shot. Lukas Podolski had shot and followed through. I tried to play on, but the pain was too much and the scan showed a fractured fibula.

“It’s been my worst injury so far, touch wood, but I was only out for four weeks and they were probably expecting it to be longer.

“Steve Sidwell has gone into the side here at Stoke and done great and so now it’s a matter of me waiting.

“Hopefully he won’t get injured, but it’s important for me to try and get in and displace him.”