Moses Not Likely to Return for Stoke until February

Hughes to offer Odemwingie new deal

Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Super Eagles and Stoke City forward, Victor Moses is not likely to return to full fitness until probably end of January.

Stoke City Manager, Mark Hughes, yesterday expressed his frustration that the 24-year-old winger was still at his parent club, Chelsea, receiving treatment from their medical team.

Hughes, who has already expressed his anger at not being able to have Moses treated at Stoke, commented: "He's still at Chelsea and working with the physios there.

"We are probably still looking at three to four more weeks, I would suggest, so if we can get him back before the end of January we would be delighted.

"The injury is a difficult one where it is and is notorious for having to be careful with. "The last thing we want is for him to come back too soon and re-injure himself."

Moses hasn't played since picking up a thigh injury in the home defeat to Burnley on November 22. Stoke's medical team did enjoy a brief glimpse of Moses when he popped in to see them before the game at Crystal Palace on December 13, but they have otherwise been relying on second-hand information from their Chelsea colleagues.

Despite Hughes frustration over Moses, he is however happy with another Nigerian forward, Osaze Peter Odemwingie who is also nursing injury that has left him on the stands for months.
It is even been speculated that Stoke is willing to offer the Nigerian a new deal when his existing contract expires at the end of the season.

Odemwingie has been out with a cruciate knee ligament injury since August 30 and there are
no guarantees he will be fit to play before running out of contract at the end of the
season.

But Hughes has thrown the stricken winger some seasonal comfort and joy by
revealing: "There's something in place, I think, so we will have discussions nearer the
time.

"We'd like to think he would get back before the end of the season. He might not make it,
but even so he's working exceptionally hard to make it.
"He knows he has to work really hard. With that injury you need to do the work now so that
he won't be compromised when he comes back."

Odemwingie, who will be 34 next summer, was widely acknowledged as a major catalyst behind
Stoke's powerful second half to last season following his arrival from Cardiff in January.
He admits the injury he suffered during the otherwise famous win at Manchester City at the
end of August was a huge blow to absorb.

"I have just started running outside, which is a massive step for me. From now onwards hopefully things will accelerate a little bit for me.
"In terms of the minimum period I was told I would be out for, I am just over half way through that now," observed the former Bendel Insurance player who is desirous of returning to action.