Overview
- Gavin Bazunu misses the Middlesbrough match through injury, with Tommy Simkin starting as Stoke seek a fifth straight clean sheet.
- Divin Mubama has ligament damage rather than a fracture and has returned to Manchester City for further assessment after being stretchered off against QPR.
- Mark Robins is without five strikers, leaving Lamine Cisse to lead the line as the only available option through the middle.
- Key absences include surgeries for Robert Bozenik and Viktor Johansson on shoulder injuries and Lewis Baker on a heel issue, with Junior Tchamadeu and Ben Gibson also out.
- Stoke are exploring up to three additions in the final fortnight of the window, prioritising forwards within financial and squad registration constraints.