Football League World
·21 October 2024
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·21 October 2024
Narcis Pelach may look to freshen his team up for the visit of the Robins this week
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Stoke City have recently put an end to their wretched run of form with a win and two draws in their last three outings.
Narcis Pelach faced a tough start to his spell as Potters manager after losing his opening two games in charge, and will be looking to press on with another win when they face Bristol City on Tuesday night.
With Championship matches gathering pace, it is likely the manager will have to rotate, especially since Wouter Burger went off injured against Norwich City on Saturday.
Burger was forced off injured in the first half of Stoke's 1-1 draw with Norwich at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.
Pelach was unable to specify the injury suffered by the Dutchman, and admitted that the club would have to wait and see the extent of the issue.
"I don't know yet," Pelach told Stoke-on-Trent Live on Burger's situation. "I don't know [the issue with Burger]. I'm just thinking about the game plan and all the things I have to check. I don't know.
With Stoke set to face Bristol City on Tuesday night, it is likely that Pelach will be forced to make a change to his side given Burger's expected absence.
With Burger set to miss out against the Robins, FLW's Stoke City fan pundit Sam Harrison believes Jordan Thompson will replace him in central midfield.
"One change that I'd make to the Stoke side for the game on Tuesday against Bristol City would be Jordan Thompson coming in for Wouter Burger," Sam told Football League World.
"I think obviously Burger went off injured, so I think it's more of a reinforced change than anything else, so I think Thompson, who obviously came on in the Norwich game for Burger, I think he'll come on."
Thompson had been a consistent starter under Steven Schumacher when he was Potters boss, but the 27-year-old has fallen out of favour under Pelach in recent weeks.
The midfielder has featured as a substitute in Stoke's last three outings, in which the club are unbeaten, and will be hoping to regain his place in the starting eleven beyond Tuesday's clash with the Robins.
Sam also thinks that Pelach could make further changes to his side in midweek, with Ashley Phillips likely to be the main beneficiary of any rotation due to the quick turnaround of fixtures.
"I do think that Narcis Pelach might look to freshen up the team - Ashley Phillips maybe?" Sam added.
"Obviously, you've got the likes of Stevens and Gibson who are more experienced players, playing constantly and consistently, especially in three games, in such a short time.
"You'd expect maybe players like Ashley Phillips, like Eric Bocat to come in.
"They're the two other ones I'd predict to come in, but it's obviously how many changes you make. Will that maybe differ or obviously break the momentum that we're building and have built from the Norwich game?"
Stoke will be hoping to stretch their unbeaten run to four games when they face Bristol City at the Bet365 Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Potters will likely be forced into one change, with Thompson set to come in for Burger, who was forced off against the Canaries on Saturday.