STRIKER TYRESE HARD AT WORK IN QUEST TO HIT GROUND RUNNING

TYRESE Campbell has started a pre-pre-season as he heads into a big summer at Stoke. The 22-year-old striker has not had a proper pre-season since 2019 due to the pandemic and injury. He missed a big chunk of 2021 with a knee problem, only returning to action late in the autumn, and was eased back into the flow of things by Michael O’neill.

He made 10 starts and 16 sub appearances before needing to end his season early for a planned procedure on his knee, timed to make sure he would be back in training in preparation for next term.

Now he has teamed up with private coach Josh Bill, who worked with Josh Tymon when allowed during lockdown to help Tymon come out flying and turnaround his Stoke career.

Campbell is expected back at Clayton Wood early too, with most players set to return on June 20. Harry Souttar is in the final stages of his recovery from anterior cruciate ligament damage and hopes to be involved soon.

Meanwhile, Lee Grant has joined Ipswich Town as a first team coach – for outfield players – on the day he announced his exit from Manchester United and retirement from playing. The 39-year-old, Stoke’s player of the year in 2017, has previously worked with Ipswich manager Kieran Mckenna and his assistant Martyn Pert at Old Trafford. He said: “I feel really blessed that I have been able to make the decision to retire and go straight into an exciting role with Ipswich Town. Over the last few years, I have been preparing for this moment by obtaining my coaching licences, expanding my network and working on a business degree. It has all been with the intention of being in a good place for a smooth transition at this point in my career.

“I could not be joining a club with a more exciting footing than Ipswich either. There is new ownership, new direction, a driven manager and a squad that is also hungry to go and achieve things.”

STOKE midfielder Lewis Baker has been named as a potential target for Jamaica in a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.