Steven Schumacher has made four changes to the Stoke City starting XI for today’s Championship six-pointer against Huddersfield Town.
Enda Stevens isn’t ready for a second 90 minutes after his star turn back from injury on Friday, in a 2-0 win over Hull, and is replaced by Jordan Thompson at left-back. Thompson’s spot in midfield is taken by Wouter Burger, who is available again after a two-match ban while Lewis Baker replaces Luke Cundle.
Niall Ennis returns to lead the attack while Bae Junho is also back in the starting XI. Ryan Mmaee and Sead Haksabanovic drop out.
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Daniel Iversen starts in goal behind a back four of Ki-Jana Hoever, Thompson, Luke McNally and Michael Rose. Baker and Burger are joined by captain Josh Laurent in midfield. It’s another start for Mehdi Leris on the right of attack next to Ennis and Junho.
Stoke are tasked with building on Friday and the difference between these two teams at the wrong end of the table could be eight points, five or two by this evening, going into the final six matches.
“We have to deliver again,” said Schumacher. “It’s a huge game against a team who are a rival, in and around us in the league. We have to get to that standard again.
“A few times since we’ve been here I’ve felt as if we’ve played well and then not got a result in the next game or haven’t performed to the way we needed to.
“Showing some consistency is key now. If we can back it up with another good performance and a big result then that will ease the pressure.”
Stoke: Iversen, Hoever, Thompson, McNally, Rose, Burger, Baker, Laurent, Leris, Junho, Ennis. Subs: Bonham, Stevens, Vidigal, Campbell, Wilmot, Mmaee, Haksabanovic, Cundle, Manhoef.
Huddersfield: Nicholls, Pearson, Helik, Rudoni, Radulovic, Thomas, Headley, Spencer, Kasumu, Matos, Jones. Subs: Maxwell, Burgzorg, Koroma, Diarra, Wiles, Jackson, Daley, Iorpenda, Healey.
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