SLOW START TURNS HEAT ON ROWETT

GARY ROWETT is under pressure because of Stoke City’s stuttering campaign so far. The club’s hierarchy have targeted an immediate return to the top flight and believe they have a squad easily strong enough for automatic promotion.

But the Potters are 12th in the Championship and five points off the play-off places, although a midweek win over Derby took some of the heat off boss Rowett (left).

Stoke were able to keep England keeper Jack Butland and other big names following relegation from the Premier League.

Big earners Benik Afobe and Peter Crouch were on the bench in midweek.

MAN CITY WILL DO “ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING” TO HANG ON TO HIGHLY-RATED MIDFEILD STAR BRAHIM DIAZ, 19