Three-day window into Stoke City transfer conundrum leaves three big questions
Steven Schumacher, Ricky Martin and Jared Dublin have been given plenty to weigh up as they reach the mid-way point of Stoke City’s January transfer window
Two games in three days have acted as a microcosm of the transfer decisions currently facing Stoke City.
On one hand, there is Lewis Baker coming out of the cold to score a brilliant free-kick winner against Rotherham, plus a healthier looking first team squad and less busy treatment room. Then there was last night’s brilliant 5-1 win for the under-21s against Manchester City, with Nathan Lowe scoring a hat-trick, Ben Wilmot and Tyrese Campbell gaining valuable minutes and Sol Sidibe and Emre Tezgel among those furthering their claims.
Both have served as useful reminders about what already lurks on Steven Schumacher’s long register of players available for the second half of the season. Liam McCarron made his senior debut in the FA Cup too, some 18 months after joining from Leeds United, and scored against Man City. D’Margio Wright-Phillips will get his first chance to impress after returning to training while Enda Stevens is back in contention for the first time under the new head coach.
READ MORE: Lewis Baker emphatically modest on return to first team fold
Not all of players who have been on the fringes in the previous regime will suddenly charge to the fore but the message has been clear that they have an opportunity to do so. The next bit is up to them.
