Stoke new boy Xherdan Shaqiri raring to go against Norwich after debut delay

Xherdan Shaqiri is set to make his Stoke debut this weekend

STOKE’S record signing Xherdan Shaqiri is raring to go after his debut was delayed by a week, boss Mark Hughes says.

 

The midfielder, brought in for £12m from Inter Milan a week ago, was all set to play at Tottenham last week.

Hughes then discovered that Shaqiri had a suspension to complete after being sent off in a Coppa Italia game while at Inter.

 

But the Switzerland star is all set to go when Stoke visit Norwich in the Premier League on Saturday, according to Hughes.

“He’s been very good in training,” the Stoke boss said. 

“We didn’t appreciate when we signed him that he had a suspension to complete, but he’s had another week’s training with the group, and that’s probably better for him.

“If I’d been tempted to throw him in at Tottenham after just light training sessions with us on the Thursday and Friday, then he might not have hit the heights we feel he will do.

“Having had an extra week, he’s more integrated into the group, so we think he’s got a better chance of making an impression.”

 

Spanish winger Bojan Krkic is also close to a return after playing 90 minutes for the Under-21 side last weekend.

Bojan has been out since January with a  knee injury, but Hughes may save him for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Luton.

Hughes said: “I’ve had conversations with Bojan so he knows my thinking in terms of where he is and what he needs to do.

“He’s progressing really well. He had the 90 minutes for the Under-21s, which was an important thing for him.

“But I’m mindful we’ve got a game on Tuesday as well, and a number of guys will be involved in that.

“Whether I involve him at the weekend or wait to give him more significant time on Tuesday, we’ll just have to wait and see.”