Football Season Guide

Stoke boss Nathan Jones can be well pleased with his summer transfer activity. He has brought in a host of talented players well used to this level. Defence was already a strong suit after numerous clean sheets last term but Barnsley's Liam Lindsay, Huddersfield's Tommy Smith and Burnley's Stephen Ward have further strengthened things in that area. Adam Davies has arrived, also from Barnsley, and that provides a clue that Stoke expect key keeper Jack Butland to leave soon. That though has not happened at the time of writing. Nick Powell has arrived from Wigan and the trick will be to keep him fit. But on his day he can be one of the best players in the Championship. Lee Gregory has arrived from Millwall while Jordan Cousins comes in from QPR. The signings were all made fairly early in the window so that is another definite plus for Jones. He is an ambitious manager and Stoke remain an ambitious club despite the blow of relegation two seasons and a nondescript campaign last time around.