Stoke City boss Gary Rowett has been dealt an injury blow ahead of his side's crunch clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Tom Ince has been ruled out of the game as he is set to undergo hernia surgery on Tuesday to rectify a problem that has been troubling the 26-year-old for a number of weeks.

The Stoke City boss revealed the extent of the injury that Ince was having treated, which will see him miss the game against Forest, but he is confident that he could return after the international break for their game against QPR.

"It’s only a small procedure and so he should be back training within a week to 10 days and back playing after a couple of weeks."

Ince's absence leaves Rowett with a selection dilemma ahead of him for their game against Aitor Karanka's side this weekend.

But, who could be ready in waiting to take their chance and replace Ince in the starting XI?

Find out here....

Clucas made the move to Stoke in the summer from Swansea but is yet to kick a ball for Rowett's side this season.

This is due to an injury that has hampered his return to action.

But, after he was an unused substitute in Stoke's draw with Middlesbrough at the weekend, the former Hull City and Swansea man will be pushing for a start against Forest this weekend.

Many Stoke fans would have expected to see Bojan start regularly when they dropped into the Championship, but that certainly hasn't been the case.

The Spaniard has made just three starts all season for Rowett's side and will certainly be pushing for a start this weekend against Nottingham Forest in the absence of Ince.