Dean Whitehead’s return to Stoke City was an initial surprise even to the man who was going to appoint him.

Whitehead was part of the Stoke squad that reached the FA Cup final in 2011 and helped the club establish itself in the Premier League during those years under Tony Pulis. He has gone on to enjoy a coaching career which has taken him from Burslem to Besiktas and Barnsley but he has known Narcis Pelach from Huddersfield, even though their time there didn’t overlap.

Sporting director Jon Walters said: “It was a surprise for me when Narcis mentioned Dean, a nice surprise because I know Dean and his son’s in the academy. I’ve been seeing Dean probably once a month as our paths have crossed with different things, but this was a decision by Narcis rather than myself.

Sports scientist Joel Dawson is staying with the first team for a key role under Pelach following the departure of Elliot Turner.

Dawson has been with Stoke except for eight months in 2023 where he was lured to Manchester City, who wanted to keep him. He returned to lead sports science in the academy, but has now been drafted by the seniors.