This will be potentially a huge season for Stoke City who are on the back of three consecutive ninth-placed finishes. The Potters have moved a long way forward since the appointment of Mark Hughes three years back but they need a top-six finish to show for it. Once used to be ill-known for their unattractive brand of football, Hughes have managed to transform Stoke to an attacking side but they need a better season this time around or else they have to stay mediocre for too long.
If you are not moving forward, you are going backwards and Hughes has to come up with everything to ensure that Stoke get a result to show for their remarkable progress over the years. In this vastly crucial season for the Potters, let us take a look at three Stoke City players to watch out for this season.
Ramadan Sobhi
The 19-year-old is right now one of the biggest potentials in world football and Stoke City made a strong statement of intent with the signing of the Egyptian international. The fleet-footed winger is likely to be a long-term project at the Bet 365 Stadium but he will be keen to show that he can make the difference right now. Sobhi is already a full-fledged international with the Egyptian national team and had been making the headlines in his native Egypt with Al Ahly Cairo thanks to his blistering pace, deadly dribbling and an eye for goals. We have to wait and see how Sobhi fares in his first season in the Premier League.
Gianelli Imbula
The Stoke City club record signing has made his mark since his move to the club in January from Porto. A strong midfielder who can win the ball in the midfield, Imbula can make bombarding runs forward. He is a great shooter of the ball and a decent passer as well. The 23-year-old pretty much a player you can term as a midfield general, Imbula will be a key player for the Potters this season.
Joe Allen
Allen spent four long years at Liverpool before his move to Stoke City. Despite showing what he is capable of time and time again, the Welshman could never become a first-team regular at Anfield. Now aged 26, Allen needed to move for the sake of his career. He showcased his magic with Wales in the Euros and can do the same at Stoke City on a weekly basis. Allen will be the lynchpin of Stoke City midfield this season and plenty of seasons to follow. We have to wait and watch how the midfield playmaker fares for the Potters in his maiden season at Bet 365 Stadium.
