What business will Potters look to do in the window?

THERE are nine games left for Stoke City before the January transfer window opens - and nine games for Mark Robins and Jon Walters to be influenced about just what Stoke City really need, might need or could do without heading into the second half of the season.

- Peter Smith

Stoke are well placed after a third of the season.

Better placed, in fact, than any other team since they returned to the Championship in 2018.

They sit third with the best defensive record in the division and fifth best attack.

Supporters might have spoken in the summer about targeting a top-half finish after seven years of ending up or being stuck in the other half.

But the way the division has been panning out, and the way Stoke have been playing, has raised hopes that they might have more fun than that.

So where will they be looking to bolster?

A quick look at the squad shows where Stoke are well stocked or otherwise. Having versatile players, in particular Bosun Lawal, helps on that score too.

The fitness and injury news, touch wood, has also been chalk and cheese to previous years.