PHILLIPS BACK WITH STOKE!

Popular defender returns on season-long loan

- Peter Smith

STOKE City have pulled off a coup by securing Ashley Phillips on another season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Mark Robins and Jon Walters have been working as secretly as possible to try to win a surprise return for the 20-year-old centre-half despite significant interest from Championship rivals and clubs in Europe.

Spurs had not been expected to sanction another loan move for this term and Phillips was keen to take the chance to impress new manager Thomas Frank in preseason.

But they have been accumulating new signings in his position and when Phillips was told he would be allowed out again he was determined that Stoke would be his destination.

Walters said: "Being able to bring Ashley back to Stoke City despite plenty of competition is down to him loving his time here last season so much, and a lot of work that took place behind the scenes to make it happen.