There are 27 potentially season-changing points to play for before Narcis Pelach gets a chance to tweak the Stoke City squad for the first time in the transfer market so perhaps that’s cause not to focus entirely on possible comings and goings in January.

But it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall in the recruitment department’s office and see what’s written on the white board as Pelach, sporting director Jon Walters and transfer chief Lee Darnbrough have been discussing and debating in the build up to this winter and next summer.

Pelach has used 22 players so far in his 10 league games but he’s been fairly consistent with his starting XI, with a pecking order being established in each specific role. We can go through the squad department by department to see where Stoke need to add depth or quality and where they’re well placed.

Pelach has used 22 players so far in his 10 league games but he’s been fairly consistent with his starting XI, with a pecking order being established in each specific role. We can go through the squad department by department to see where Stoke need to add depth or quality and where they’re well placed.