Express & Star

Stoke pledge to help Walsall after Kory Roberts blow

Stoke boss Gary Rowett has pledged to help Walsall after a friendly between the sides was marred by a horror injury to Kory Roberts.

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The Saddlers youngster suffered a double leg break after he tangled with Ryan Sweeney at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday.

Roberts had been one of Walsall’s standout performers during the friendly clash, but he now looks set to miss the entire 2018/19 campaign after the club confirmed he broke both his fibula and tibia bones.

Manager Dean Keates had already been on the hunt for a new centre-back prior to the game.

But Roberts’ injury has left the Saddlers short in that department with Jon Guthrie now the club’s only fit senior centre-back.

Rowett though has offered to help, with the Stoke boss eager to form closer ties with Walsall.

And the Express & Star understands Sweeney and Harry Souttar are two centre-backs the Potters are happy to loan out.

Scotland under-19 international Souttar is highly thought of at the bet365 Stadium, while Sweeney has spent the last two seasons on loan at Bristol Rovers.

“I’d have lost the game 5-0 for the lad not to have broken his leg,” Rowett said.

“It’s a real shame and we will try to help Walsall out how we can because I think it’s a very good club for us to form links to. If we can help Walsall in any way, with any of our young players then I am sure we will try to do that.”

Meanwhile, physio Marc Czuczman revealed Roberts remains in good spirits despite his injury.

The defender received oxygen treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital where he was later visited by Czuczman, boss Keates and striker Ama Bakayoko.

“The X-ray confirmed a double fracture, both tibia and fibula,” Czuczman said.

“Kory handled the whole situation amazingly and, despite being uncomfortable, was in good spirits at the hospital.

“He always has a smile on his face and even in this situation was still laughing despite all that what was going on around him.

“I want to thank everyone involved for what was a successful and controlled evacuation from the pitch.

“The Stoke City staff were amazingly generous with their assistance and expertise.

“Our paramedic Gemma from WMAS (West Midlands Ambulance Service) was on hand with oxygen and pain relief.

“The stretcher bearer team were stable and controlled as ever and the SJA (St John Ambulance) team mobilised their ambulance and transferred him to hospital. Great team effort.”