MARC MUNIESA believes December could be a pivotal month for Stoke City to stamp their authority in the top half of the Premier League table.
Muniesa: Pivotal December
Stoke City
AS IT HAPPENED: Stoke City 2 Burnley 0
STOKE CITY prolonged their impressive run of form and elevated themselves into the top half of the table for the first time this season courtesy of a comfortable triumph over Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
Heaton touch and go for Stoke trip
Burnley manager Sean Dyche will decide today whether Tom Heaton will be fit for Saturday’s match at Stoke City.
The Clarets were without their goalkeeper for the first time in 143 league matches since he joined the club for last week’s defeat to Manchester City, after he suffered a calf problem.
STATTO: Watford 0 Stoke City 1
Facts and stats form the Potters’ away triumph
TRIUMPHANT // Stoke have now registered back-to-back victories against Watford having not been successful in any of the previous six matches.
Watford 0 Stoke City 1
STOKE CITY produced an immediate response to last weekend’s first defeat in seven as they returned to winning ways in front of the live SKY television cameras on Sunday lunchtime. Heurelho Gomes’ first-half own goal proved to be the difference between the two sides on paper, although in truth there was only ever one side likely to take maximum spoils.
PREVIEW: Watford vs Stoke City
Watford vs Stoke City
Sunday 27th November 2016
Vicarage Road
Kick Off 12.00pm
STOKE CITY will be looking to bounce back quickly from last weekend’s loss to Bournemouth when they face Watford in Sunday’s live televised fixture at Vicarage Road.
Hughes: Imbula in contention to start
Stoke manager impressed with midfielder Giannelli Imbula in training and could bring him in for suspended Allen.
Hughes: ‘Imbula In The Frame’
City boss says midfield ace could return this weekend…MARK HUGHES has revealed that he would have absolutely no qualms about handing Giannelli Imbula a return to the starting line-up this weekend.
City ace Marko Arnautovic says more relaxed approach has improved his game
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC says he is reaping the rewards on the pitch after taking pressure off of his own shoulders over the past 12 months. The Austrian international enjoyed his most consistent campaign in professional football last season, as his 11 league goals helped the Potters to a third successive ninth place finish.
Stoke city: Bowen ‘s Afellay Hope
Assistant boss says midfielder’s New Year return will be a huge bonus… MARK BOWEN has revealed that Ibrahim Afellay is closing in on a first-team retun but refused to put a concrete date on his first-team comeback.
The talented Dutchman has been sidelined for the past seven months after sustaining a serious knee injury in training ahead of the fixture with Manchester City last season.
However, after undergoing rehabilitation outside of the UK, the 30-year-old is now back at Clayton Wood working towards a potential return in the New Year.
Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, the Potters assistant boss said: “He’s been training with the group but in situations when there’s been no contact.
“If we’ve had games then he’s been playing on both sides so he doesn’t get any tackles.
“Tuesday was a step forward because he was training with the group and we could see all his attributes that delighted us last year.