‘I was embarrassed’ – Stoke City captain on injury and working with Steven Schumacher
News from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City captain Josh Laurent reflects on his time with the new head coach
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Josh Laurent and Steven Schumacher were first thrown together.
It was early 2018 and Laurent was getting his first real taste of football at League One level as a 21-year-old on loan at Bury from Wigan Athletic when Schumacher was lured out of coaching at Everton’s academy to become assistant to caretaker boss Ryan Lowe.
They couldn’t save a Bury side doomed to League Two but Laurent did enough to earn a move to Shrewsbury Town and a platform which would deliver him to the Championship. Schumacher and Lowe, meanwhile, pulled Bury straight back up with promotion despite crises off the pitch to earn a shot at Plymouth Argyle, who were soon to be hauled up two divisions.
Both paths ultimately led to Stoke City, reuniting in mid-December… for a few days before another frustrating break. An ankle injury for Laurent in Schumacher’s first game as head coach meant he wouldn’t play 90 minutes again until March. Hopefully it has all been worth the wait.
Laurent said: “I worked with him before years ago when I was on loan at Bury and he was assistant manager. I liked him then and then meeting him again years later. I didn’t have long at Bury and then it was a few training sessions and a game but I got injured so I was watching from the outside a bit having not worked with him a lot.
“When I came back it was nice and fun. Even that game against Cardiff, take the result aside, I really enjoyed playing in that but the result overshadowed it. The gaffer has got a good footballing idea, an identity and a way he wants to play and he believes we should play and it is enjoyable and fun and learn from. I want to learn new things about my position and become better.”
There has been pressure on everyone over the last few weeks but Laurent recognises values that still shine through.
“First and foremost, in any job, you want to work with good people and that’s what he is,” he said. “He’s a good person. He has no bad intentions. He doesn’t have anything negative to say, everything is for the good of someone or the football club. He has really good intentions.”
And the captain is relieved to be back fit to play his part.
“It was a bit embarrassing to be out injured,” he said. “You’re just sitting in the stands and you feel helpless. I actually thought we were playing really well in games but not getting results. Then you get to a point when games are running out and you realise it’s not about how you play, it’s all about results. You have a hunger to get back and make a difference, make a difference to the squad, team and club. As soon as I came back, I said to myself that I was going to make a difference anyhow I could. I hope I have and, if I have, I hope I can continue to do that.”
Laurent has made an impact on how Stoke can approach games as he lines up in the engine room. A remarkable statistic recently thrown up by the CIES Football Observatory put him second in world football for central midfielders in terms of most darting runs per game, which might be a very particular bit of trivia but at least highlights his athleticism.
“I’ve always known my strengths as a player, what I can bring and what I’m good at,” he said. “I’ve probably learned more about being a captain as the season has gone on. My personality can be big on the pitch and I’ve felt I’ve needed to show that a bit more. It’s something I hope I’ve done in the last few games and that’s something I’ve learned probably while I’ve been out injured as well.
