Tyrese Campbell is being backed to make a difference for Stoke City in the vital three final games of the season after his return to the starting XI.
The 24-year-old striker, Stoke’s longest serving first teamer and out of contract in the summer, was back in to lead the attack at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, his first start in a month in the Championship.
It was a big ask up front on his own, particularly in the first half, but he chipped in with important work defensively, including a goalline clearance, and later set up the equaliser for Luke Cundle to earn what could be a precious point in the battle to stay up.
He is now hoping to keep the shirt for this weekend’s crucial penultimate home match, against a Plymouth Argyle side who sit one point and two places above the Potters.
Head coach Steven Schumacher said: “Tyrese has got that speed and that power that not many defenders like playing against. We needed physicality against Sheffield Wednesday. That was what the team was picked for, I picked the biggest and strongest team that I possibly could really. Tyrese is one of them.
“He defended well for us at set pieces, led the line and didn’t give their centre-backs an easy time. He did all right, yeah.
Campbell will face competition from former Plymouth forward Niall Ennis for the shirt on Saturday while Cundle, another Plymouth alumni, is hoping that his goal at Hillsborough will propel him up the pecking order too.
Stoke City’s final fixtures
Saturday, April 20: Plymouth Argyle (h)
Saturday, April 27: Southampton (a)
Saturday, May 4: Bristol City (h)
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