Stoke City’s preparations for their Championship match against Cardiff City include the latest team news from the bet365 Stadium.
Enda Stevens is stepping up his return to fitness again as Stoke City head into the crucial last 13 matches with a near fully-fit squad.
Stevens, aged 33, has been missing since mid-December as a calf injury was followed by a nasty hamstring strain. The summer signing left-back is now back running at Clayton Wood with fitness staff and hoping to return to full training around the end of February.After a string of injuries wrecked his previous two seasons at Sheffield United, the experienced Republic of Ireland defender has had another difficult season. As a result, Stoke has increasingly turned to Jordan Thompson, a central midfielder, to fill the void at left or wing-back.
After receiving a ticket against Coventry on Saturday, Thompson, 27, will be suspended for two games if he receives another booking during the following four games. His total now stands at nine since the two yellow cards he received on New Year’s Day against Ipswich Town are considered red cards for which he has already served a one-match suspension.
Thompson needs to behave himself well for the forthcoming games against Cardiff City (away), Middlesbrough (home), Leeds United (away), and Preston North End (away) because the next amnesty for yellow cards ends after the 37th game of the season.
Wouter Burger has received eight bookings and needs to be careful. Ben Pearson has previously accrued ten bookings, served a two-match ban, and received his eleventh. Before the season ends, he will incur a three-match suspension if he receives 15 yellow cards.
After being disqualified over the weekend due to late judgments, Daniel Iversen (dead leg) and Luke McNally (thigh) are aiming to return this week.
“We had an idea about Daniel because he was struggling (on Friday) in training, so Jack (Bonham) knew he was going to play,” Steven Schumacher clarified. Luke McNally underwent a fitness test this morning (Saturday) because he had some thigh soreness at the very end of yesterday’s training session. He saw the physiotherapist this morning, and I received a call informing me that he wouldn’t be accessible. We lose those two, but in football, that’s just part of the game; you just have to adjust.”
Following the midweek victory over QPR, Burger, Junior Tchamadeu, Niall Ennis, and Bae Junho were the other four players to be benched. All of them saw action as replacements in the 1-0 loss to Coventry.
“I wanted to make a few changes anyway,” Schumacher continued, “because Niall Ennis playing three games in a week is a risk given his lack of football experience, and Junior in the same way.” Wouter and Junho have played for us almost nonstop since then. Wouter left the previous game on Wednesday because to stiff hamstrings, and they are just young boys who have never played in this country.
“Sometimes you’ve got to look at the evidence that’s in front of you and decide that maybe need to keep people a blow every now and again and that’s what you’ve got a squad for. I thought the starting players did well in general as well.”
Senior players and Ryan Mmaee, who is not being considered for selection due to disciplinary issues, were excluded due to Stoke’s large roster. The goal of Mmaee, a 26-year-old summer signing who has three goals in 20 Championship games, is to regain the confidence of teammates and staff by continuing to practice with the under-21 squad.
Selection decisions excluded the unregistered trio of Scott Morris, Blondy Nna Noukeu, and Liam McCarron, as well as Andre Vidigal, Tyrese Campbell, Sead Haksabanovic, and Daniel Johnson. When it comes to selecting the team for match day 20, Schumacher has stated that he will make “tough calls” based on players’ performances in both practise and competition.
When he decided not to play Mehdi Leris against Blackburn, the head coach gave an explanation, saying, “The squad is fine right now, so we have to make tough decisions.” It was difficult to leave Mehdi out because we are aware of her constant, 100% devotion. It was disappointing that he was left out of the game because I thought we needed a different style. Next weekend, there will be more who are going to miss out. These are the difficult decisions you must make. You don’t always answer those calls correctly; occasionally you do.
England youth keeper Tommy Simkin is training with Stoke after a change of manager after he joined Forest Green Rovers. Steve Cotterill replaced Troy Deeney in their fight to avoid relegation to the National League.
