2 Stoke City youngsters that could have a big 2023 | OneFootball

The 2022-23 season has been somewhat frustrating for Stoke City and Alex Neil so far.

The Potters appointed Alex Neil as manager in August, but the Scotsman has struggled to find consistency, and they have found themselves in the bottom half of the division for much of the campaign.

Stoke have found themselves as a struggling club for a while now after Michael O’Neill’s tenure at the club went sour for a constant period. The Potters then turned to Neil to try and be a catalyst in turning the club’s fortunes around, but the Scotsman hasn’t really been the instant hit he hoped to be.

Neil will be hoping for a change of fortunes at the bet365 Stadium over the second half of the season, with the recent busy festive period offering a chance to build up some momentum.

Here at FLW, we have taken a look at two Stoke City youngsters who could have a big 2023…

Connor Taylor

Connor Taylor is currently a central defender at Stoke and has recently broken through to the first team at the Bet365 Stadium.

The 21-year-old is a product of Stoke’s academy and has played on several occasions in the FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2. Then last season the young defender was sent out on a season-long loan to then League Two side Bristol Rovers, where he played 47 times for the Gas in all competitions.

That loan spell seemed to have set him in good stead as he returned to the Bet365 Stadium and played in the Potters’ opening 10 games of the Championship season.

The 21-year-old started eight of those 10 games, as he looked to have made a breakthrough in the first team. However, since the beginning of October, Taylor has only featured in seven of the 14 matchday squads and has failed to make an appearance in any of those games.

It is unclear what the club’s plans are for the defender in the winter window, but Taylor will be hoping that 2023 can be a year that sees him play more regularly for Stoke like he did at the start of this season.

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Tom Sparrow

Tom Sparrow is another young player at the Bet365 Stadium that will be hoping 2023 can be a year that sees him break into the first team.

The 19-year-old came through the ranks at Stoke and has featured heavily in the club’s youth set-up throughout his time at the club.

The midfielder made his senior debut for the club last season, featuring in one game in the Championship. This season, the young man has added to that appearance by making two more in the Championship and one in the EFL Cup this campaign.

Sparrow started in the 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town back in August and then played the final 12 minutes of the game against Middlesbrough.

He seems to have a bright future ahead of him and is obviously held in high regard by the club, but it is unclear what his immediate future will hold.

Whatever that may be, Sparrow will be hoping he can break into the first team set up and be given more chances by Neil.