Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel missed his first league game of the 2020-2021 season as Stoke City grinded out a 1-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Wednesday night.
The former Nigeria international was not selected in the traveling party to Wycombe due to fitness issues.
Mikel started each of the first fourteen matches played by the Potters in the Championship this term, going the distance in all the games with the exception of the goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend in which he was replaced with fourteen minutes left.
Stoke City have not provided an estimate on how long the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner would be out of action.
Speaking before the game, manager Michael O'Neil praised Mikel for making the team stronger defensively.
He was quoted as saying by StokeonTrentLive : "I think John Obi has given us a lot on that side of things as well. The assurance he gives us as a holding midfield player makes us stronger defensively as well.
"We’ve got depth there. You are always looking to improve as well but overall it’s a side of the pitch we’re well covered in."
Stoke City have eight more games to play this calendar year, starting with the visit of Mikel's former club Middlesbrough to the Bet365 Stadium this coming Saturday.