Asmir Begovic Injury: Updates on Stoke City Star's Finger and Return

Stoke City's Christmas celebrations have taken a turn for the worse after it was revealed that Asmir Begovic will be absent this week due to a broken finger.

As was confirmed by the club's official Twitter account ahead of the Potters' Boxing Day meeting with Newcastle United, manager Mark Hughes said that the injury occurred in training on Dec. 25:

"

#SCFC Mark Hughes has just confirmed in his pre-match TV interview that Asmir Begovic broke a finger in training yesterday

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) December 26, 2013"

The Sentinel's Pete Smith adds to Stoke City's pain, too, after reporting that the incident came "in pretty much the last minute of the session."

With their regular No. 1 absent, the Potters will start with Thomas Sorensen in between the posts against the Magpies, per the The Northern Echo's Scott Wilson:

"

Thomas Sorensen in goal for Stoke as Asmir Begovic is injured. #NUFC won't need reminding of his previous appearances at SJP.

— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) December 26, 2013"

What's more, the injury has meant that Jack Butland has been recalled from his loan spell at Championship side Barnsley in order to provide his team with some extremely promising cover.

This January will mark 12 months since the England international moved to the Britannia Stadium, but Butland has yet to make his Premier League debut.

Regardless, the stopper will be hoping that Begovic's absence means that he can finally make his impact felt in the English top flight, although Potters fans everywhere will pray that decision comes as a result of team choice and not another injury, should Hughes indeed opt to give the 20-year-old some playing time.