Mark Hughes: 'Late fitness test for Ryan Shawcross'

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has admitted that it is touch and go whether Ryan Shawcross will be fit to take on Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Hughes said that he would not rush the centre-back into a return and if he does miss out on Saturday it will be to make sure that he is fit for the rest of the Christmas schedule.

"Robert Huth is still unavailable for tomorrow, and Ryan Shawcross hasn't trained yet," Hughes told reporters. "We're going to give Ryan as long as we can. He'll have a fitness test tomorrow morning. If he isn't available we'll have to rearrange.

"If we have to leave Ryan out tomorrow to be sure of having him over the rest of the Christmas period we'll do that."

Stoke are currently 13th in the Premier League.