O'Neill says Tyrese Campbell injury a big blow to Stoke

The forward scores seven goals for the Potters before being ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury

Author: Luke WilsonPublished 16th Dec 2020

Stoke boss Michael O'Neill admitted his side missed the injured Tyrese Campbell in the 0-0 draw at QPR.

Forward Campbell, who has scored seven goals this season, is expected to be ruled out for the rest of the campaign after suffering a serious knee injury.

He might have made all the difference at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

O'Neill said:

"Tyrese had been been playing as a wide player more than through the middle but he was in a rich vein of form. We've also been easing Steven Fletcher back after a knee injury.

"A combination of those things has maybe meant we're not as productive as we were earlier in the season.

"But I'm not that concerned because I do believe we have goals in our squad. We have a good balance.''

Despite their injury problems, Stoke are very much in contention for a play-off place and have now kept five consecutive away clean sheets.

O'Neill added:

"I thought there were periods of the game where we were quite dominant and had a lot of control.

"We probably just didn't do enough in the final third. We had a lot of opportunities to get good balls in the box.

"Overall I thought we had a lot of good play and looked assured at the back.

"I'm a little disappointed not to come away with more but if we're honest we maybe just didn't do enough.''

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