Patience is crucial for Robins as he attempts to boost Stoke

MARK Robins isn’t the only Championship manager to have to bide his time through the opening few days of the January transfer window.

- Peter Smith

Nine of 24 clubs have made their first moves.

Leaders Coventry have struck twice, bringing in Romane Esse and Yang Min-hyeok.

But most are in a similar boat, looking for value or differentials in a division when so many can still dream of a shot at something special with 20 games remaining.

Those kinds of signings are very difficult to find.

Stoke City have had to reassess their priorities after entering the new year with a barrage of injuries, including a couple of long-term blows to goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and striker Robert Bozenik.

A goalkeeper clearly hadn’t been on Stoke’s agenda for this month and Robins has been having talks with the hierarchy about what to do next. It is not a simple decision.