Stoke host West Ham on Saturday and three points for the Potters would see them sneak up into the top half above Southampton and Watford.
?
It’s just one win in the last seven for Mark Hughes’ men and they’ll be eager to beat the Hammers and go on to finish the season strongly.
?
Here’s a possible XI Hughes could field…?
Goalkeeper
-
Grant33
One of Stoke’s better players this season, Lee Grant will continue in goal in the absence of Jack Butland.?
Defence
-
Johnson8
-
Martins Indi15
-
Shawcross17
-
Pieters3
Stoke seem to have reverted back to a four-at-the-back system of late after experimented with three centre-halves and two wing-backs as a lot of teams have done before them this season.
?
Bruno Martins-Indi and Ryan Shawcross won’t be coming up against Andy Carroll on Saturday but could instead find themselves trying to back-pocket Diafra Sakho or Jonathan Calleri.
?
Glen Johnson has started the last three league matches and could be tasked with containing Manuel Lanzini and on the opposite flank, Erik Pieters has played every single game bar one under Hughes this season and is sure to start once again.?
Midfield
Mark Hughes is somewhat a difficult manager to predict – he has chopped and changed personnel and formation a heck of a lot this season.
?
With Jonathan Walters a doubt for the game, the Potters could go with one up top and five in midfield, with Charlie Adam and Geoff Cameron as the defensive pairing behind Joe Allen.
?
Stoke’s two bright sparks are Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic, whose penalty at Swansea has only just landed, and Hughes will be hoping they can bully the West Ham full-backs – certainly in the case of the latter.
Forwards
-
Berahino9
Hughes has kept faith with Saido Berahino over the past couple of months but the Englishman is still yet to score for his new club, which has got to be playing on his mind a little bit.
?
Berahino is a poacher, and will be calling on Arnautovic and Shaqiri to prove some decent ammunition as he tries to get the better of Winston Reid and co.?
admin
