Despite having one of the complete squads in the Premier League, Stoke City have struggled hugely to get their season running this campaign owing to their inconsistent form. Mark Hughes has numerous players under him, who have both the years of experience, and physique, to go through the rigours of the English football flight. But the Potters are still lingering at the bottom of the first half of the table.
And the fact that they have played two more games than their immediate followers Southampton essentially throws them into the wrong half of the table. While injuries to Xherdan Shaqiri and Peter Crouch, and the lack lustrous Wilfred Bony have done little help to keep the scoresheet ticking for Hughes, the real surprise has been their defence.
Stoke have conceded 42 goals so far, despite having a beefed-up backline consisting of Premier League veterans, who are capable of stopping the fiercest of attacks. And while their European dreams are pretty much over for this season, Hughes seems to be planning for the next season already, as reports emerge of the Wales manager of targeting Hull City full-back Andrew Robertson.
According to reports, the Potters are plotting a summer move for the 23-year-old Scottish international. The young defender has been one of Hull City’s most impressive player this season with many clubs vying for his signature if the Tigers fail to stay up in the Premier League at the end of the season. The left-back was a hot prospect last winter when Burnley were hot on his heels and a late intervention by new manager Marco Silva stopped his move away from the KCOM Stadium.
Though only 23, Andrew Robertson has already played over 100 games for the Tigers. He joined them back in 2014 from Dundee United, and although he was impressive on the left defensive flank, he couldn’t save them the relegation. But, he didn’t give up and helped his team gain a promotion back soon, thus establishing himself as a first-team player.
An academy product of Scottish side Queens Park FC, Robertson made his first-team appearance for the side in 2012 when Dundee picked him up following impressive displays. Although Robertson doesn’t have the biggest of frames at the back, which Stoke City usually prefers, he more than compensates for it with his perfect passing and sublime dribbling abilities as he moves forward.
It would be impossible for Hull to retain him if they get relegated this season and given his age, Robertson could be one of Premier League’s greatest if he moves to a better pack with quality players (yes I wrote this sentence understanding the gravity of it).
