Stoke City predicted starting XI vs Norwich as Mark Robins weighs up wingers
Stoke City predicted starting XI vs Norwich as Mark Robins weighs up wingers
Mark Robins will have to decide whether Million Manhoef is ready for a Stoke City starting shirt after returning to action with an important cameo.
Manhoef made his first appearance last weekend since injuring a knee in mid-December. The 23-year-old came off the bench to help the Potters come from 1-0 down to beat Swansea 3-1, setting up the second goal with a free-kick.
There is competition for wide spots, with Bae Junho – who scored that second goal – catching Robins’ eye when he switched to the left while Lewis Koumas had scored twice the previous weekend from the left wing against Cardiff in the FA Cup.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand had played on the left wing a weekend before that, in a win at Hull, but an update is needed on him after he jolted a calf when he landed while playing at left-back in the closing stages against Swansea. There will be an update, too, on Wouter Burger after he limped off with a knee injury. Ben Gibson, who was supposed to be among the substitutes, pulled out in the warm-up.
Robins would find it tough to stomach further blows just as key men like Manhoef and hopefully Sam Gallagher, Enda Stevens and Ben Wilmot are making their returns to action.
Jordan Thompson started against Swansea at left-back, his first start since October – undergoing a hernia operation in January. Stevens could come back in for a test at Carrow Road – but Stoke also have a home match against Middlesbrough on the Tuesday that will have to come into Robins’ consideration.
Ben Pearson is hoping to clock up as many minutes as possible after his first start in 11 months, even if he might not be risked through 90 minutes just yet. Ali Al-Hamadi, on loan from Ipswich, will enjoy the chance to try to get one over Norwich.
Robins isn’t likely to make all that many changes unless forced but could switch Junho and Koumas’s flanks. Lewis Baker, after scoring his stunner last week, is on standby to return to the starting XI if needed.
Predicted Stoke starting XI vs Norwich: Johansson, Tchamadeu, Thompson, Rose, Phillips, Pearson, Burger, Moran, Koumas, Junho, Al-Hamadi.
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