Stoke have plenty of areas to consider as the transfer window opens for business

STOKE

- Peter Smith

CHANCE: Robert Bozenik has the opportunity to hammer home the number nine position at Stoke City.

City start their second year under Mark Robins sitting within striking distance of the Championship playoff mix.

Robins is disappointed to be sitting in 10th after 24 games considering they were second back on November 8 - but everyone in the Stoke camp would have jumped at the chance in the summer to be within four points of the top six at this stage of the season.

The division is even more tight than normal - and it's normally ridiculously tight. Some 207 of the 287 games played so far this campaign have been drawn or settled by just one goal either way, significantly more than recent years.

So who can find a way to consistently turn more of those kinds of fixtures in their favour over the next few months? Who can unearth a new signing to make a difference in defence or attack?

Stoke have to live by profit and sustainability rules but there will be scope to make an important tweak or two.

As the curtains are pulled back for Day One, here are the potential storylines that will keep the wheels turning until the deadline passes at 7pm on Monday, February 2.

JAMIE DONLEY TO RETURN TO SPURS

The Northern Ireland playmaker, aged 20, will return to North London ready to try his luck at a new base in the second half of the season.

This was supposed to be his step up loan, having helped Leyton Orient reach the League One playoff final last year. He has started two Carabao Cup ties but only made four cameos in the Championship and none since a defeat at Millwall on October 21.