Advertisement

Late check for Stoke City key man ahead of Sheffield United trip

Bramall Lane, home of Sheffield United.
-Credit: (Image: Ashley Allen)


Wouter Burger is to be assessed in a bespoke training session today to see if he can be passed fit to be involved for Stoke City at Sheffield United.

Burger missed a mid-week home draw with Bristol City with a foot problem but is hoping to be back in time to play a part at Bramall Lane on Saturday (3pm), whether that’s from the bench or from the start.

Head coach Narcis Pelach said: “Today he is going to train apart from the group and we will be able to see if he can manage the session we have prepared for him. After this we will decide if he cannot be available and we have to wait because this is too much risk to take, or if he is fit and feels like he can do it and we can play him maybe from the bench or maybe from the start. I’m not in a position to say that now because we have to wait for the training session to see.”

READ MORE:Stoke City players take problem to Narcis Pelach to try to finally find fix

READ MORE:Stoke City reception intrigue for Tyrese Campbell and Harry Souttar on day of reunions at Sheffield United

Sam Gallagher (hamstring), Bosun Lawal (back), Lynden Gooch (knee) and Ben Pearson (hamstring) remain in the treatment room at the moment during three consecutive three-game weeks which will test a young and tight squad.

Pelach has been pretty consistent with his starting XI in the Championship but is expected to give minutes to those on the fringes over the next few days too, particularly with a Carabao Cup trip to Southampton on Tuesday night.

Ashley Phillips, Tatsuki Seko, Sol Sidibe and Emre Tezgel are among the players hoping to take the chance to catch his eye and prove that not all answers have to be found in the transfer market.

Pelach added: “It’s such a difficult league. At minute 60, players drop levels in terms of tactical approach and physical demands. It’s important to have squad depth and we’re conscious about this. I came here five weeks ago and I’m conscious we did not have time, the transfer window was closed. We’ll see, we’re working on that, the club is conscious about this as well. We are working all together in the same direction to strengthen our squad.

“Now it is the moment to make the players that we have strong, to make them better, to make sure the levels of togetherness and style of play are there and then it will become the moment we need to talk about one addition, two additions, three additions. The ones we feel can help take us to another level.

“But now I don’t feel it’s time for that, it’s time to strengthen what we have, make sure all the players are on board. They will all have the chance to show if they deserve to be involved or don’t deserve to be involved. The games will come in the next week and we will see all of them and we will see what they can do.”

How should Stoke line up vs Sheff Utd? Click HERE to join the debate