Overview
- Manager Mark Robins confirmed the 23-year-old suffered a training‑ground thigh injury and faces roughly six weeks out.
- Bazunu had joined on loan from Southampton to cover for Viktor Johansson after the Swede’s shoulder surgery and kept a clean sheet on his debut against QPR.
- Stoke’s squad is severely depleted with 10 senior players injured, Bosun Lawal suspended, and further fitness checks ordered after the 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough.
- Tommy Simkin will continue in goal as Robins manages workloads, considers academy call-ups, and waits on updates for several rehabbing players.
- Stoke remain eighth in the Championship, two points off the play-offs, with discussions on loanee treatment and availability to be shaped by their parent clubs.