Former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel will not be on the field of play when his side takes on Tottenham Hotspur in the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, it has emerged
Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill confirmed this during Tuesday pre-match ress conference.
Mikel who have been sidelined since November 28 was expected to be back but for a new setback in his recovery.
The game would have provides him an opportunity to meet with his mentor and former coach, Jose Mourinho – the coach that brought him to England in 2006.
Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, O’Neill said : “John won’t be fit in time for the game.
“It was a game he was very keen to be involved in but he had a little set back on Friday and we’ve just got to manage him over this week for the game on Saturday to see if he’s ready for that”.
Mikel has not figured for the Potters in their last six matches in the Championship due to the ailment, having started their first fourteen games of 2020-2021.
The 33-year-old was one of the protagonists in Stoke City’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
