Bocat: 'I'm really happy for Junior because he's my boy - he's like my brother to be honest'

JUNIOR Tchamadeu has the attributes to be a 'really top player' as he continues to progress at Stoke City.

- Peter Smith

That's the view of his teammate and close pal Eric Bocat, who knows first-hand what it's been like to get a first taste of playing regularly in the Championship this season.

Tchamadeu played 15 times in the league for Stoke last term when he was understudy to Ki-Jana Hoever, but he has found his most consistent form so far in a simplified role under Mark Robins, with perhaps more traditional expectations of what is required from a right-back.

Robins has kept the same back four since Bocat returned to fitness to start a 1-0 win over Blackburn back on March 12, and in that run of six games Stoke have won three, drawn two and conceded four, which has been a marked improvement, albeit with plenty of room for more.