Stoke City winger Ato Ampah faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing serious knee surgery, a major blow to the 20-year-old's hopes of a first-team breakthrough. Manager Mark Robins confirmed the significant setback, which occurred during the recent international break.
Ampah suffered an impact injury to his knee while working to be available for his senior debut. Robins stated the subsequent operation was "quite serious" but had gone well. The young attacker, signed from Chelsea in January, now begins a long recovery process designed to protect his long-term joint health.
"It’s really disappointing," Robins said. "He’s going to be out for a fair amount of time and everybody is really disappointed for him." The manager described the situation as a cruel challenge, noting Ampah had not been able to build any momentum since arriving at the club. A previous toe injury had already ruled him out until this pre-season.
He emphasized that the recovery will be a careful process with no shortcuts.
The injury is particularly untimely given Stoke's current form and a shortage of wide options. The Potters sit eighth in the Championship with 16 points from 10 games, their recent run reading three wins, a draw and a defeat. They travel to face 23rd-placed Derby next, a fixture you can preview on our fixtures page. With Sorba Thomas departing in the summer, opportunities on the wing were opening up, though players like Justin Devenny and Ethan Galbraith have impressed.
Before his injury, Ampah had shown promise for the under-21s, scoring twice against Bournemouth and Wolves. His absence now requires others to step up as Stoke aim to maintain their positive start. The full extent of the squad's attacking options can be reviewed on our squad list. Ampah's recovery will be measured and careful, with the club prioritising the player's future over a rushed return.
The original report is at onefootball.com
