Stoke City buoyed by transfer and injury boost ahead of QPR clash

Stoke City will arrive at Loftus Road this weekend buoyed by news that has come out of the Midlands over the international break as the Championship outfit continues to be revitalised under the leadership of Narcis Pelach.

The 36-year-old took on the role with the Potters in September, taking over from Steven Schumacher, as he quit his coaching role at Norwich City for the new challenge. At the time, Stoke City were 13th in the Championship and, while the side still hold that same position, there have been signs of improvement.

Pelach's side has lost just one of their last eight Championship fixtures, showing signs of a hard team to beat despite picking up three points in just one of those fixtures. With Marti Cifuentes desperately looking for his second league win of the season, the visit of Stoke City to Loftus Road - where his team last won a second tier match in April - is a tricky meeting.

There will be an extra bounce about Stoke City this weekend too after sporting chief Jon Walters heaped praise on the work done by Pelach and teased improved transfer signings in coming windows as a result. The former midfielder hinted at potential action in the upcoming January window, even if it was cautious.

Walters told Stoke Sentinel: "It’s always difficult in January. You’re looking to supplement your squad. There’s a lot of players around who are going to be out of contract in the summer so it makes it difficult, those players will be pushing, clubs will want fees, everyone is in for similar types of players.

“We’ll get our players back from injury and I think we’re in a decent place, squad wise. We’re young at the moment, which is fine. Do we need more experience or not? It’s keeping assessing it. It’s non-stop and recruitment looks towards the summer anyway and you don’t want January to affect your summer.

“There are a few things going on but we did 10 in the summer and we have to be careful what we bring in. Narcis knows exactly how he wants to play and what he wants and we balance that on the club side, the long-term for the club. We all know how it works and we’re all aligned.”

Stoke City thriving in loan market

Walters also spoke in depth about the performances of loan players for the side this term with Tom Cannon and Ashley Phillips particularly impressive, alongside the blossoming Andy Moran and Lewis Koumas. The chief hinted at potential moves to make all of those loans permanent in the near future.

He said: "He [Pelach] wants to develop people. That wasn’t a surprise because you know that but he believes in development and you’re looking at Andy [Moran], Lewis [Koumas], Ashley [Phillips] and Tom [Cannon] and asking if we can have them next year because we want to develop them as players. He wants to coach them, wants them to learn, wants them to get the best out of themselves, wants them to be in the Premier League, ideally with us of course.

“I think you can see that players buy into it and likes it. It’s difficult for players that aren’t playing but there’s a reason and you’re told.

“He does bring good names. He did the same at Norwich. He’s coached some very good players when he was younger who are now playing at a high level. They all really like him and we’ve had players asking to come here, which is good and it’s a matter of whether we can do it."

Those teasing updates come in a week where Walters had also unveiled promising injury news ahead of the trip to Loftus Road. Stoke City could have Lynden Gooch back in action soon while Bosun Lawal is also training again ahead of the busy festive run.

Edna Stevens and Ashley Phillips are also just managing 'niggly things', which suggests an imminent return after the break.