ROBINS LOOKS TO ADAPT

MARK Robins is braced for tests to come after Stoke City were left without any senior fullbacks.

- Peter Smith

Right-back Junior Tchamadeu is currently in Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations and could be missing until mid-January depending on how far Cameroon progress.

Meanwhile, left-back Eric Bocat suffered a knee injury in training and has missed the last two games while Aaron Cresswell pulled up late in the first-half of a goalless Boxing Day draw with Preston.

It left Bosun Lawal holding the fort on the right and Ben Gibson was called up for his first league appearance of the season on the left, meaning centre-halves were filling every position in the back four.

"It’s difficult when you've not got any fullbacks but I think the lads who have come in have done ok so far," said Robins.