Stoke City’s trip to Coventry this weekend will provide a stark contrast to round off their international break.
Between the September and October vacations, a hectic three weeks saw Alex Neil’s team struggle with both injuries and unfavourable outcomes. However, when crucial players regain their fitness, they have come back to win 10 of the first 12 points available. Ironically, the only vital player they have lost this time around was lost to injury at another team.
Andre Vidigal, Enda Stevens, Michael Rose and Ki-Jana Hoever are among the players who have been back to be involved over the last couple of weeks while centre-forward Ryan Mmaee made an impact too before being consigned to another little spell on the sidelines. Keeper Mark Travers, recalled because of injuries at Bournemouth, has twice sat on the bench back in the Premier League.
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With what was termed as “a little nick,” Mmaee was left out of the starting lineup for a 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough. Neil said that he was almost fit to play against Cardiff. It is anticipated that he will get a chance to play on Saturday at Coventry.
With two goals for the under-21s in a 6-3 victory over Blackburn Rovers, Emre Tezgel has resumed his road back to health. The 18-year-old attacker, who has suffered multiple quad problems in the past year, has retreated to his own age group to regain strength.
It was nice to have Emre Tezgel back in the lineup following a protracted injury absence, according to head coach Alex Morris. “He’s worked his way through some minutes now both for the under-18s and the under-21s, and for him to get a couple of goals was great.”
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