POTTERS LEFT CONFIDENT OVER TYMON’S DEAL PROSPECTS

THERE is calm on both sides as Josh Tymon heads towards the final few months of his contract at Stoke City, The Sentinel understands. Tymon’s fortunes have been transformed at Stoke since the arrival of Michael O’neill, half-way through the fiveyear deal he signed when he joined from Hull City in 2017. He was recalled from a loan in Portugal and given a chance and patience to show his ability and potential, breaking into and now holding down a place in the starting XI.

The 22-year-old has been in strong form at the start of this season, scoring twice and catching the eye with his quality of delivery from the left, while also filling in central midfield when needed. There were rogue suggestions in the national press that Stoke might face a fight to keep him beyond next summer but he is more than happy at the bet365 – and there is belief from coaches there is still more to come. Tymon said recently: “I’d put the arrival of the manager down as being a big factor (in turning around his Stoke career).

“He’s given me a chance from the first day he came in, really.

“Now he sees me as a big part of what he’s trying to build here and hopefully this can continue and I can carry on the form until the end of the season.”

He added: “Over the years I’ve had to train myself in terms of mental strength and how to deal with setbacks. Now I think I can deal with anything that’s thrown at me. “There aren’t many players who start at 16 and carry right through to the end of their careers. But it’s all on my shoulders, really it was up to me to carry it on and I didn’t do enough while I was at this club to push on to where I should have. “Now hopefully people can see what I can do on a match day. I can’t put it down to anyone else.

“People might say I wasn’t given a chance, but you have to earn that chance. It’s all down to me. I didn’t deserve to play because of my performances when I did get a little stint.

“Getting myself mentally right, I think, is a big part of how I’ve started this season strongly.”

Tyrese Campbell came through another run-out for Stoke under-23s on Friday night.

Adam Porter scored a fine goal but the junior Potters lost 2-1 at Fulham.