Stoke City

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Stoke begin their Championship season with the visit of Swansea to the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Mark Robins' men began the campaign with an EFL Cup first round win over Oldham last weekend and the 3-1 home win over Derby last season was their third straight opening day win.

The Swans bowed out of the EFL Cup at home to Birmingham while they are winless on the opening day of the league season since 2020.

• Stoke City have lost just one of their past 15 home league games against Swansea City (W10 D4), going down 2-1 in March 2021; they've won this exact fixture in each of the previous two campaigns.

• Swansea City beat Stoke City in their last league meeting 2-0 in March; last winning consecutive games against the Potters in the 2020-21 Championship campaign.

• After losing each of their final four league games last season, Stoke are looking to avoid five successive defeats for the first time since January 2005.

• Swansea avoided defeat in their final four away league games last season (W2 D2), not since between February and November 2020 have they gone five successive games on the road unbeaten (11 games – W5 D6).

• Only Gustavo Hamer (12) recorded more assists in the EFL Championship last season than Stoke's Sorba Thomas (11), while he led the league for chances created (90) and expected assists (9.8).

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Stoke City boss Mark Robins said he does not want to dampen down expectations fans might have this season and believes "anything is possible" heading into a new campaign.

The Potters embark on their ninth attempt to return to the Premier League since they dropped out of it in 2018 and have invested heavily on and off the field in a bid to significantly improve on last term's 17th place.

"I think the Championship looks really strong," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke in the build-up to Saturday's opener at Swansea City.

"It remains to be seen, but on paper it's really strong. Teams are spending, teams have got different capabilities now and you've got to keep up with that, you've got to try to surpass that.

"It remains to be seen what we can do, and where we can be, but there's no dampening any expectation. We're part of it. Anything's possible at this stage."

Stoke started last season strongly before their campaign was ultimately ruined by persistent injuries across the squad and Robins has previously highlighted the importance of the revamped medical department under Damian Roden.

Robins is confident players will be available and "at the right level to perform" during the season and has underlined the importance of trying to enjoy it.

"That's the job really in amongst all of the stuff that goes on around it, which is the white noise," he said.

"But we just focus on what we do and remembering why you do it because you love it - and also other people love it and they want to come and watch you because they've got that excitement for anything's possible.

"So we've got to do that. We've got to, at this stage, reach for the stars."

Johansson 'epitomises everything good'

Robins has also explained his thinking behind replacing Ben Wilmot as captain with goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

"This isn't something being taken away from him [Wilmot]. The reason I gave him that was to try and give him some confidence in terms of his communication and leadership which he's taken on and you can see there's a difference," he said.

"I thought Ben had done really well in the circumstances last season and captained us to a really good start.

"Viktor is somebody who epitomises everything that's good. This isn't a criticism of Ben by any stretch.

"Viktor's somebody who is vocal in the dressing room, he's vocal in meetings and demonstrates the sort of characteristics that you want from a captain of Stoke City."

Preston, Millwall and Stoke are interested in a move for Hull City right-back Cody Drameh, 24, who has a year left on his contract at the MKM Stadium. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

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Mark Elliott
BBC Radio Stoke commentator

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Stoke did what they had to do against an Oldham side that acquitted themselves well throughout in their Carabao Cup tie.

Viktor Johansson made several good saves behind a back four still coming together as a unit following Luke Graham's arrival to replace Ashley Phillips and in the absence of injured Junior Tchamadeu and Aaron Cresswell.

The midfield has seen three new arrivals and remains a work in progress too, but this game - and pre-season before it - has served to further demonstrate what Stoke need to do in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

While they need another full-back, the club's main priority is surely to reconfigure and retool its attack.

Currently, the squad looks built for a 4-3-3 with two number eights rather than two deep-lying players and a 10.

Eric Bocat already inverts from left back, and with centre-half Ben Wilmot playing out of position at right-back, it looks from the outside like that base formation would allow Wilmot to tuck in and Stoke to build with a back three.

The Potters could then push Bocat or the two eights on to attack in a fashionable 3-2-5, while still defending in their usual 4-4-2 with everyone bar Wilmot in their favoured positions.

But Mark Robins seems keen to stick with last season's shape which leaves him looking for answers to last season's questions.

Is Bae Jun-ho the answer in terms of creativity or can a buyer be found for him? Will Sorba Thomas attract a big offer that necessitates a sale? And can any of the club's recognised strikers be relied upon to score consistently?

There are question marks over the future of almost every attacking player at the club for one reason or another and Stoke will need to let some go to free up space in their squad before making any more than one or two additions.

The defence and midfield look like they're coming together but there's still work to do at the other end of the pitch with the Championship season just a week away.

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Stoke City winger Lamine Cisse says the fans have not seen his full potential yet.

The 23-year-old scored three goals and provided three assists in 34 Championship appearances last season in his first campaign in English football after arriving from French side SC Bastia.

But the Frenchman believes there is more to come after "learning a lot" and adapting to the intensity of the league.

"Now I'm more ready for what's going to happen in the game, so now I don't have an excuse, I'm just ready to play," Cisse told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I don't think they [the supporters] have seen all of my quality. So I want to show more for the fans and to make them happy. I'm excited to show this.

"I just have to work hard and keep going to develop my play style. And if the gaffer gives me his confidence, I have to give him [something] back. That's my job."

The Potters started the 2025-26 Championship season in promising form with nine wins from their opening 17 games and were second in November.

But a poor run of just six wins from their remaining 29 matches meant Stoke slumped to a 17th-place finish - something which Cisse is keen for the team to put right this time around.

"We want to start like last season and keep this intensity and keep the feeling of victory," he added.

"We learned a lot from last season because we started pretty well, but by December, it was a little bit hard.

"And now we have to learn from this and to be better this season."

Listen to Lamine Cisse's full interview above or on BBC sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

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A new episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is now available.

Lucas Yeomans, Matt Sandoz and Gareth Owen assess the Stoke City state of play before the new season, and discuss potential ins and outs before the closure of the transfer window.

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Stoke City are preparing a £10m bid for Ipswich Town and Scotland striker George Hirst, though it is thought the 27-year-old favours a loan move. (Alan Nixon via Patreon - requires subscription, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Stoke City have agreed a deal in principle for Ipswich Town right-back Harry Clarke, with the total package for the 25-year-old Englishman worth £3.5m. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer rumours, read Tuesday's full gossip column here.

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Chris Harby
BBC Sport, West Midlands

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Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the club is looking to further improve the squad as it looks to end a run of disappointing seasons.

Since relegation from the Premier League in 2018, the Potters have failed to challenge for promotion, with a highest finish of 14th in eight subsequent campaigns.

Robins' side made a good start to last season, but a run of injuries and poor form saw them finish in 17th.

In June, the club's sporting director, Jonathan Walters, dismissed speculation over Robins' future, but the manager knows patience is wearing thin over the club's predicament.

"I want to improve it [the squad], we all want to improve it as quickly as possible, as much as possible, and do as much as we possibly can do to do it," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I think players have had opportunity. There's been too much time and too many years that the club has been in the position that it's been in and nobody wants that to continue, so get on board."

Yet Robins was pleased with his side's display in their final pre-season test on Saturday - a 1-1 draw with Valencia which followed a win over Everton.

"I think you can see there's a good togetherness but also a good team that's being built," he said.

"If they work like that then they've got a good chance because we've got some players with a threat."

BBC Radio Stoke's Mark Elliott is joined by former Stoke City defender Ian Cranson to reflect on the Potters' 1-1 home draw with Valencia in their final pre-season friendly.

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New Stoke City defender Luke Graham says his move to the club is a definite step up and the "perfect place" to make him a better player.

The 22-year-old arrived at the Potters at the start of the month from Scottish Premiership side Dundee, where he came through the youth set-up.

Graham won both the players' player and young player of the year awards at Dens Park last season in a breakthrough campaign that featured 41 appearances in all competitions.

"This feels like the next logical step," Graham told BBC Radio Stoke, having had time to settle in during pre-season.

"Working with the coaching staff on the pitch every day, it's only going to make me a better player."

Despite finishing an ultimately disappointing 17th last season, Stoke had one of the best defences in the second tier - conceding just 56 goals - with only the top four teams letting in fewer.

And Graham said that shows he is in the right place to improve.

"Coaching aside, the players you've got in the defensive areas are top, top players and you know there's real good competition at the back to try to get in the team every week," the Scot added.

"I think that's what edges you to give that extra 10% in training, because of that competition. It's no surprise why that defence did so well last season.

"I've played in every division in Scotland so that next step was coming here and playing in the Championship and trying to take my game to the next level.

"I think this is a perfect place to do that."

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Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the changes that have been made to the way the squad trains are starting to show "really good signs" in an effort to avoid a repeat of their injury crisis last season.

Robins would not elaborate on what is different about their preparation regime for games this season but was adamant they had to do something after the way 2025-26 was undermined by having so many players unavailable for long periods.

"I'm not going into that [what's changed] but you can't keep doing the same things can you?" he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"On the back of a really disappointing campaign last year, something had to give, so we just looked at a lot of other things.

"We've changed the way we train because of last year. We've still got a long way to go, even though we've only got a couple of weeks until the first game.

"The work that we're doing is standing them in good stead and they're putting the work in. There's some really good signs."

Among the changes the club have made off the field is a revamp of their sports science department with the re-appointment of Damian Roden as head of medical and performance.

In addition, former players Erik Pieters and Danny Pugh have taken coaching roles in the academy under new director Jack Higgins.

Robins said he "really liked" the new support teams and was enjoying working with them.

"You've got a synergy that you have to have for things to function properly. So there are a lot of conversations, meetings in the morning and plan for the day, meetings at the end of the day to make sure you're ready for the next day. And you go on," he said.

"It's been good so far and will get better over time."

Wrexham and Stoke City have joined the clubs showing interest in Crystal Palace's English full-back Danny Imray after the 22-year-old spent last season on loan at West Brom, who also want to re-sign him. (Mail), external

For more EFL transfer rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson says he is hungrier than ever to get back playing for the Championship club.

The 27-year-old was part of the Sweden squad at the World Cup but did not make an appearance as Graham Potter's side reached the last 32, where they were beaten by France.

Johansson missed four months of last season after dislocating his shoulder against Sheffield United in December, only returning for the final game of the campaign at Bristol City, before agreeing a new four-year deal with the Potters in May.

"This is probably one of the first years in my career that it felt like coming home - I missed it so much during the off-season and my family missed it as well," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"That tells you a lot about the club and how we feel at home which is a nice feeling and seeing Svante (Ingelsson) here as well who I have been playing with in previous years and how he's fitting into the group."

Stoke have signed goalkeeper Josh Griffiths from West Brom to add further competition for the position but Johansson believes it is a positive addition for the club.

"It was painful not to be playing but at the same time I was really happy for Tommy (Simkin) to get some game time and Gavin (Bazunu) as well but I am really hungry to play," he added.

"I've always been one of those players and keepers who want to push each other - Josh and I have a great relationship already. We've spoken about things and I'll support him when he plays and he'll support me."

Stoke start the new Championship season at home to Swansea City on Saturday, 15 August (15:00 BST).

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