ROOKIES’ DISPLAYS ENTHUSE MANAGER O’NEILL
IF A 0-0 draw with Millwall on opening day failed to tout Stoke City’s promotion credentials, the remarkable midweek victory over a near full-strength Wolves side certainly did.
Nuno Espirito Santo deployed his first choice back-three, plus the might of Ruben Neves, Adama Traore and £35m record signing Fabio Silva.
But a goal from Jacob Brown and another resolute defensive display - the Potters have now gone fourand-a-half hours without conceding a goal - sealed a place in the third round. Of greater significance to manager Michael O’Neill, however, was the sudden competition for places that has blossomed at the Britannia.
The performance of
Brown - likened to Traore by O’Neill - was one such boon, whilst it would be a surprise if one or both of Nathan Collins and Harry Souttar, the young centre-backs, are not first-team regulars by the end of the season. Collins, a recent target for Manchester United, was particularly impressive against Wolves and all three are in contention to start when Bristol City visit the Potteries this afternoon.
“It’s important that when players do come in that they are ready and the boys showed that against Wolves,” said O’Neill, the former Northern Ireland boss. “I thought they handled the situation really well, the young boys in particular. I was delighted with them. It creates competition for places, which is what we want. “We’ve got a big squad, a very demanding schedule. Players aren’t going to play every game and those boys have given me something to think about.”