Shocking image of Stephen Ireland's leg after Maynor Figueroa tackle

Stephen Ireland suffered a gruesome injury after he was on the end of a horror tackle by Maynor Figueroa

The Stoke midfielder needed 10 stitches after Figueroa's dangerous challenge during the Potters' Premier League clash with Hull City.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "It was a shocking challenge. It could have finished Stephen"s ca‎reer.

"Why it is not a straight red, I have no idea. There has been a lot of talk of challenges recently but this was worse than any of them.

"We have lost Stephen for any number of weeks. He is in a bad way. He has come in at half-time, rolled his sock down and everyone was taken aback by the severity of the gash.

"The referees have got to get their act together. The officials are finding it very difficult to get the key decisions right."

Despite losing Ireland to injury, Stoke won the match 1-0 thanks to a second-half header from Peter Crouch.

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