'Never known it before' - Robins on injury crisis
Robins is without all four forwards and his new goalkeeping signing
- Published
Stoke City manager Mark Robins said he is suffering the worst injury crisis in his 19-year managerial career, but that the club just have "to deal with it."
The Potters are without all four of their forwards and have scored only five goals in their past seven Championship games. New goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has also been sidelined with an injury after just one appearance.
"I've never known it before but it's happening, so we've got to deal with it, and we will do that," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We can sit and sulk, or we can think about what might be, but there's no point because the reality is we've got injuries to key players and we've got to make the best of the hand that we've got."
Stoke led 1-0 at home to fellow promotion-chasers Middlesbrough on Wedneday, before losing 2-1 and slipping to eighth in the table, two points adrift of the top six.
"There's no way we lose that game with a full contingent of players, no way," Robins said.
"But you get injuries throughout the season. You have to be able to cope with it. We've got no other option than to double down and deal with it.
"The biggest frustration is we have a real opportunity. We've got to maintain that, stick in there and pick points up. We've got to do that, all the time."
Stoke visit Birmingham City on Saturday with the 13th-placed Blues on a four-game unbeaten run and just three points behind them.
However, despite his depleted squad, Robins said he is "looking forward to the game".
"We've sold out the away end. It's brilliant, a fantastic following, in a stadium that is really noisy, and always has been. They're really well supported, and at home, they've been really, really good.
"They've got a lot of good players, and got grand designs on a new stadium and promotion. They're a team and a club on the up, so what's not to like about the game.
"I think they're really well coached. Chris Davies has done a really fantastic job, his first head coach role, record points from League One last season, and built a squad that is good, capable and competitive."
