EDWARDS’ BIG CITY CHANCE

Potters boss O’neill looking forward to seeing defender stake his claim on return from New York loan spell

MICHAEL O’neill hopes to see ‘the best version’ of Tom Edwards when the right-back returns to Stoke City next week.

Edwards, aged 22, had been a contender for player of the year when he had a first regular run in the first team in the second half of 2018/19.

But then-manager Nathan Jones brought in Tommy Smith that summer and it was Smith who eventually emerged as first choice when O’neill took charge that winter.

Edwards went out on loan to try to rebuild confidence and form, first to Fleetwood and then New York Red Bulls, where he has enjoyed consistent game time over the last few months in a run to the end-of-season MLS playoffs.

He returns to the UK this week and will be back at Clayton Wood next week, keen to work his way back into favour at the club where he has been since the age of eight – even if New York would like to take him back.

Loan rules mean the defender will not be available for selection until January, but he will have a month to show his potential in training and bid to hit the ground running if and when he gets a chance.

“Tom will come back in, of course,” said O’neill.

“He’s got a month until the transfer window will open (when he is available to play again) and he’s obviously got a contract, a long-term contract with another two-and-a-half years left.

“He’s had a loan spell away from the club, at Fleetwood at the start of last season and now a loan spell in the MLS.

“I have to commend him for taking that opportunity because he had to come a little bit out of his comfort zone, which is a good thing.

“It wasn’t an easy time with the whole covid situation to uproot and go and live in America and deal with that.

“It can’t have been easy for him at times.

“He comes back here and hopefully we’ll see the best version we can of Tom.

“I don’t think we’ve seen that in the period I’ve been at the club and I look forward to seeing it when he comes back in next week.”

Captain Joe Allen will serve a one-match suspension this weekend at home against Blackburn Rovers due to two yellow cards in Wednesday’s defeat at Bristol City.

Striker Sam Surridge is also out, the second of his threegame ban for a red card against Peterborough.

Midfielders Jordan Thompson and Sam Clucas are not expected to be available, meaning that Josh Tymon could be drafted into the midfield three and Alfie Doughty or Morgan Fox, both back from injury, get a run at wing-back.

O’neill said: “We move on. We’re disappointed (with the result at Bristol City) but we’ll be ready to play on Saturday.

“We’re stretched. We miss Joe now on Saturday and we have to make sure we’re ready to play.

“If you have a three-game week and you can take six points from the three games that’s not a bad return.

“We have an opportunity to do that on Saturday.”