Higginbotham blow for Stoke

Danny Higginbotham’s season is over after the Stoke City defender suffered a serious knee injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

Higginbotham limped from the Britannia Stadium pitch late in their draw with the Blues after injuring his right knee, and scans have revealed the 32-year-old has ruptured his cruciate ligament.

He faces six months on the sidelines, ruling Higginbotham out of Stoke’s FA Cup semi-final against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley later this month.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis said he was shattered by the news.

“It’s a rupture and I’m devastated for the kid,” he told the Sentinel.

“It’s a big blow for the team because Danny had just come back into the side and was doing so well.”

“He’s been such a great servant to the club and is so popular with the fans, and with good reason.”

“With the back end to the season we’ve got coming up, it’s a really depressing thing to happen.”

“Hopefully he will return to training by the back end of pre-season but it’s hard to be precise right now.”

“We look after our own at this club, so once he gets over the shock of the injury, Danny knows he will be getting the best possible care and treatment.”

Higginbotham is expected to miss the start of Stoke’s 2011-12 campaign.