Stoke City’s injury concerns ahead of Portsmouth fixture on Wednesday ft Million Manhoef update
Stoke City have had a turbulent few weeks as a club, but must now look ahead and start to win games to pull away from the Championship drop zone, starting with the visit of Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Narcis Pelach has been in charge of the Potters for nearly two weeks now, and there has been little respite as he continues to search for his first three points as head-coach in his third game as boss against Pompey.
It is still very early in the season to judge, but Stoke have not looked like the mid-table team that
many expected so far under previous boss Steven Schumacher or Pelach, and they currently sit 20th in the second-tier with just two wins from their first seven games, so this midweek clash already feels like a must-win for the Spaniard.
The Potters produced a disappointing performance last time out at Middlesbrough, as Michael Carrick’s side cruised to a 2-0 victory with little fight put up by their visitors, but the signs were there, at least, that Pelach’s keep-ball style of play is being slowly implemented throughout the team.
Their visitors, Pompey, are in similarly poor form, albeit slightly more expected given their status as a newly-promoted side from League One, so it is also a huge game for John Mousinho’s side as they seek a first win of the season on their return to the second-tier.
It is set to be a nervy affair with both teams needing a win, and Football League World have rounded up Stoke’s injury concerns ahead of this bottom-half clash in the Potteries.
Stoke team news ahead of Portsmouth encounter
The Potters have struggled in front of goal this term with just four league goals to their name, but Dutch winger Million Manhoef has been their shining light in attack so far, yet he could be unavailable for the visit of Pompey after being forced off in the second-half against Boro and would be a huge miss if he does have to sit it out.
According to Pelach in his post-match press conference in the North East, the 22-year-old will
be “assessed” ahead of the match on Wednesday after he was substituted with a leg issue against Boro, and had also been feeling ill prior to the game.
There is some good news for the Potters though, as Stoke-on-Trent Live have reported that loanee centre-back Ashley Phillips should be set to return to the squad in midweek.
