Stoke City predicted team for Coventry as four pushing hard for recall
Mark Robins takes Stoke City to his old club Coventry this weekend hoping to put a dent in Frank Lampard’s play-off hopes
Stoke City are back on live television this weekend as Mark Robins takes his side to in-form Coventry.
Stoke are hoping to build on a home draw with Watford and get back to winning ways in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with Robins hoping to be boosted by as full a squad as he has been able to pick from since taking charge on New Year’s Day.
Wouter Burger (knee), Lewis Baker (illness), Million Manhoef (illness) and Sam Gallagher, who has been building up fitness, are perhaps pushing the hardest to come into the starting XI on Saturday (12.30pm) as the manager tries to strike the right balance between experience and energy, solidity and creativity.
The goalkeeper and back four will almost pick itself as long as everyone stays fit. Viktor Johansson has been the stand-out player all season while Ben Wilmot did well as he returned to centre-half next to Ashley Phillips in place of Coventry old boy Michael Rose last weekend.
Junior Tchamadeu adds to Stoke’s attacking threat from right-back while Enda Stevens is an influential figure at left-back. Eric Bocat has returned from injury if Stevens is not available for every minute of three games in eight days, with Blackburn Rovers (home, Wednesday, March 12, 8pm) and Millwall (Saturday, March 15, 12.30pm) to follow.
Ben Pearson came through his first full game in 16 months hopefully unscathed and Robins will have to weigh up the best balance alongside him. Jordan Thompson helped make Stoke harder to beat against Watford but will be competing for the same spot as fellow left footer Burger unless the latter is pushed into a more attacking role where Andrew Moran has been used. Baker is a different option at number 10 or Gallagher could come in as a second striker.
