Glenn Whelan sidelined due to strange back injury

The 32-year-old says that he heard a "crack" in his back as he was getting out of his car and is now unsure whether he will be recovered in time to play in the Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday. 

Stoke assistant manager Mark Bowen is monitoring Whelan's fitness ahead of the game at Anfield. 

Bowen told the Stoke Sentinel, "He did it, very simply, getting out of his car,

"People who've had bad backs will tell you how it can happen. He didn't do anything untoward; he just got out of the car and felt something crack in his back. That was it."