Johnson facing a month on the sidelines

The former Chelsea and Liverpool defender was set to make a surprise return to the England set-up before it was confirmed that he had to pull out of the squad.

Johnson had suffered a thigh injury and the club said that he would miss "at least a month" on its official website.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said that it was "disappointing" news as he felt Johnson was proving to be a solid performer.

"It is disappointing because he came back and looked really assured for us, but now it looks like we will be without him for three or four weeks, or even maybe longer," Hughes said.