Steven Schumacher is expected to revert to a 4-3-3 as Stoke City head into another crunch Championship game at Cardiff.
Schumacher makes six changes, largely returning to the personnel who ended the game last weekend and started the previous match, a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
Daniel Iversen returns in goal behind a back four of Junior Tchamadeu, Jordan Thompson, Michael Rose and Ben Wilmot. Wouter Burger, Lewis Baker and Luke Cundle make up midfield and it’s a front three of Million Manhoef, Niall Ennis and Bae Junho.
Luke McNally misses out again with a thigh injury but this is looking more like the side, or at least the core of a side, that will be trusted to help haul Stoke to Championship safety over the crucial final 13 games of the season.
Schumacher said in his pre-match press conference: “We try to avoid looking too far ahead and it’s a game we feel like if we get our plan right and our performance right then we can win. I’m sure Cardiff will feel the same. We’ll go there and be positive and try to take three points if we can but any point in the Championship is a good point – but we have to not have that mind set of looking too far ahead and just focus on the next game.”
Stoke: Iversen, Tchamadeu, Thompson, Rose, Wilmot, Burger, Baker, Cundle, Manhoef, Junho, Ennis. Subs: Bonham, Gooch, Pearson, Vidigal, Campbell, Hoever, Leris, Laurent, Lowe.
Cardiff: Horvath, Ng, Goutas, Phillips, Wilson-Esbrand, Ralls, Siopis, R Colwill, Grant, Bowler, Etete. Subs: Turner, Romeo, Collins, Wintle, J Colwill, Turnbull, Meite, Ashford, Diedhiou.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
