Stoke City forgotten man opens up on transition to new club
Former Stoke City captain Lewis Baker is confident he can influence the Blackburn Rovers squad even if he has to be patient for the chance to get on the pitch.
The 29-year-old fell gradually down the pecking order in Stoke's midfield following the exit of Michael O'Neill, who had signed him from Chelsea in January 2022. He lost the captaincy under Alex Neil and was in and out of the team under Steven Schumacher, who in August sanctioned a loan exit to Blackburn that will take Baker up to the end of his Stoke contract.
Baker has only started twice for John Eustace in his first couple of months at Ewood Park, making four appearances from the bench, but he scored his first goal when he was used as a sub in a 3-1 win at Cardiff last weekend.
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“It is a team game and I just have to be ready for every opportunity that comes along. With the age I am and experience I have, even if I am not in the team I will still try to help the team in any way I can," he said. “It is just about being prepared in those situations and when I do play, giving the best account of myself.
“Just giving everything you can when you are in the team or not, it is important because we are all pulling in the same direction and want the best for each other, the club. Anything I can give to my team-mates, I will carry on doing that.”
Blackburn are ninth in the Championship, picking up 22 points in their opening 15 matches.
Baker said this week: “Credit to the boys, as soon as I came in on the first day it was an easy transition. It’s a great dressing room, great people and they made me feel very welcome.
“Now, it is just about trying to keep improving, keep helping the team as much as I can and being ready for when my opportunities come. It is not just coming off the bench, it is day-to-day and in training you need to give 100 per cent every day, pushing your team-mates.
“Everyone knows the games we have got coming up after the break and then into the Christmas period and New Year, they come thick and fast. Everyone will be needed and must be 100 per cent at it.”
Baker is among seven senior players who are out of contract at Stoke next summer, also including Lynden Gooch, Michael Rose, Jordan Thompson, Enda Stevens, Jack Bonham and Frank Fielding.