By FRANCO PANIZO
Brek Shea might be in for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Two days after scoring the game-winner in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 1-0 win over Panama in the Gold Cup final, Shea suffered a knee injury in Stoke City’s 2-0 friendly win against the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday.
Shea suffered the knock that is being described as a “knee ligament injury” by Stoke not long after scoring the second goal in the first half of a match played at PPL Park. The 23-year-old Shea was tackled by Union midfielder Matt Kassel and was subsequently subbed off in the 33rd minute.
“I thought it was a very, very poor challenge by the boy,” Stoke City manager Mark Hughes told reporters. “What the hell he was thinking of, I have no idea. … (Shea is) disappointed, I think we all are, because it was a poor challenge. You don’t expect that.
“It’s a friendly game. You need to protect your fellow professional, and I don’t think the guy did that. Don’t know who he was. Maybe he was trying to make a name for himself, I don’t know. He went the wrong way about it.”
Shea left the stadium on crutches and talked to reporters about being upset with the situation but not angry at Kassel over the challenge. Shea will still, however, have to await a scan to determine the severity of his latest injury, one that comes just weeks before the start of the new Premiership campaign.
For his part, Shea took the injury in stride, and wouldn’t criticize Kassel for the tackle.
“Obviously I’m pretty upset right now,” Shea said after the match. “I was excited to get back to Stoke and get ready for the season. Hopefully it’s not as bad as it feels.
“When I was walking off, he apologized. And I said ‘(stuff) happens’.”
—–
What do you think of Shea’s injury? Think there’s no chance of him starting Stoke’s season opener now? Wondering why it is Shea seems to have so much bad luck?
Share your thoughts below.