Stoke City confirm squad number for new signing ahead of their weekend championship trip
News from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City prepare for Championship trip to Rotherham United
Luke Cundle has been handed the number 25 shirt at Stoke City as worn by Nick Powell, Peter Crouch and Abdoulaye Faye.
The 21-year-old central midfielder has joined on loan from Wolves until the end of the season, having spent the first half of the campaign at Plymouth Argyle – where he was signed by and impressed under Steven Schumacher, who is now the Stoke head coach.
He joined in training for the first time yesterday, with footage from the club showing that Ben Pearson and Frank Fielding were also involved after spell out with injuries. Cundle will come into the squad for the first time on Saturday, an away trip to Rotherham United, who he played against in Plymouth colours only last month – winning 3-2 at Home Park on that occasion
Daniel Iversen is also expected to make his league debut having been brought straight in for the FA Cup tie against Brighton and Hove Albion last Saturday, only just over 24 hours after his arrival on loan from Leicester was confirmed. The 26-year-old keeper has taken the number one jersey vacated by Mark Travers when he was recalled by Bournemouth in October.
Cundle gained senior experience on loan at Swansea last season before moving to the south coast in the summer. He has made 13 starts and 11 sub appearances in the Championship so far this season, scoring three times and setting up another five. He has also scored in the League Cup and FA Cup.
Schumacher made six changes for the Brighton match and will have selection decisions to make from start to front, with Ben Wilmot hoping for his first league start since injuring his knee in October and Pearson hoping to return to the fold in midfield after missing the last two games. Jordan Thompson is available again after serving a one-match suspension.
