FAB FOUR!

MARK ROBINS SHOULD HAVE FOUR MORE OPTIONS FOR HIS DEPLETED SQUAD AGAINST SOUTHAMPTON TODAY. PETE SMITH REPORTS

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from suspension.

STOKE City will have four extra players available this weekend as they take on Southampton at the bet365 Stadium today (12.30pm).

Ben Wilmot and Ben Gibson are both back in training after injury while Bosun Lawal returns from a one-game ban and Milan Smit joins the squad after signing from Go Ahead Eagles.

It has been a chance for the players and coaching staff to catch their breath following a demanding run of fixtures over the last few weeks and there is excitement and relief that there are more bodies back out on the training pitch.

Mark Robins said in his pre-match press conference: “The weather's been rubbish but the training’s been OK. It's ticking over time, trying to get more players available. That starts to happen now and hopefully we can get more and more back.

“Lewis Baker has been out for a while now but he’s overcome the plateau he was on and looks like he’s starting to progress - and that should progress pretty quickly. Once he's on the grass he won't be long and I think that's imminent.

“We've got a couple more back. Ben Gibson is back and Ben Wilmot so we are in a better place.