AliousStoke City manager Mark Robins has confirmed that forward Sam Gallagher will miss this weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
The 29-year-old, who joined the Potters from Blackburn Rovers in the summer, has endured a challenging start to his tenure at the bet365 Stadium, primarily due to persistent injury issues.
Gallagher has managed just 332 minutes of playing time this season, largely because of a calf injury that has disrupted his rhythm.
His latest appearance came in last weekend’s goalless draw against Plymouth Argyle, which marked only his third start of the campaign.
Unfortunately, the striker was forced off after just 49 minutes, and Robins has now revealed that Gallagher will face another spell on the sidelines.
Speaking at a press conference, Robins explained: “Sam will be out for a few weeks after picking up a hamstring injury in the second half against Plymouth.
It’s really unfortunate because I believe he has incredible potential.
But with the recurring injuries, I need to reassess how we use him on the pitch to avoid overloading him with too much explosive activity in such a demanding environment.
“He’s a powerful athlete—almost too powerful at times—and that can lead to muscle issues.
I need to explore how we can adapt his role to maximise his time on the pitch.
It’s been a stop-start season for him, and he’s devastated, as are we.
I’m determined to look into the mechanics and science behind his injuries to figure out how we can prevent this from continuing.
It’s not just bad luck; we need to take a proactive approach to support Sam and keep him fit.
He’s a player I rate highly, with excellent attributes, but we haven’t been able to keep him on the pitch consistently.”
In addition to Gallagher’s absence, Robins provided updates on injured players Ben Pearson and Bosun Lawal, neither of whom is expected to feature against Sunderland. Pearson has recently returned to light training, while Lawal is also working his way back to match fitness.
“Ben’s been on the grass over the last couple of days, and Bosun is back in training with us, but neither has had enough minutes to be ready for the weekend,” Robins said. “Ben’s been out for most of the year, and we’ll assess whether he can play for the under-21s next week. But we’re working with a thin squad, and unfortunately, that means players will have to regain match fitness while being part of the group. It’s not ideal, but we’ll make the best of the situation.”
With injuries limiting his options, Robins faces a challenging task as Stoke heads into their FA Cup clash against Sunderland, looking to overcome these setbacks and deliver a strong performance.
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