Midfielder worry for Potters

Stoke are sweating over the fitness of midfielder Glenn Whelan after he picked up a hamstring injury against Liverpool.

Whelan lasted just 20 minutes of Sunday's goalless draw at Liverpool and boss Tony Pulis is now waiting to hear the full extent of the injury and will be praying it is nothing serious. The same can be said of the Republic of Ireland, who now fear that the player will be forced to withdraw from the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and The Faroe Islands. A spokesman for the FAI said: "Glenn Whelan came off with a hamstring injury after 20 minutes in Stoke's match against Liverpool today. He will undergo a scan in Dublin tomorrow morning before any further decision is taken on his fitness." Stoke will not take any chances on the player though and will pull him out of the games if he is not 100 percent fit, news which would be a blow to Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.