Stoke's Manhoef may miss three months with knee injury

Million Manhoef signed in the January 2024 transfer window from Vitesse Arnhem

Stoke City winger Million Manhoef has been ruled out for up to three months with a knee injury.

The Netherlands Under-21 forward came off after an hour of last Saturday's 2-2 Championship home draw with Cardiff City.

Scans have now shown up medial collateral ligament damage and suggest he might not be available for "between eight to 12 weeks".

"It's disappointing because is one of our offensive players who can produce more," head coach Narcis Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke.

"But this is life in football - when one thing comes, they come all at the same time.

"We need to be strong, we need to keep believing and we need to keep fighting because everything can change."

Manhoef, 22, is Stoke's top scorer in all competitions this season, with five goals, and also has three assists to his name.

He is one of four Potters players who have all netted three league goals this term, along with defender Ben Gibson and on-loan duo Lewis Koumas and Andrew Moran.

Stoke also have a doubt about striker Sam Gallagher, who made his first appearance in two months when he came off the bench late on against Cardiff. Pelach says he is "being assessed but he might not be available".

Pelach's side are without a win in seven matches, having picked up just four points out of a possible 21 going into Saturday's lunchtime game with in-form Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

They currently sit 17th in the Championship, five points clear of danger going into the festive fixture programme.

Manhoef was signed on deadline day in the winter transfer window 11 months ago from Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem.