With a major focus on local players, Stoke has turned into a thriving academy and recently there have been a few who have broken through, including Nathan Collins who was sold to Burnley this summer for big money.
The U23s finished second in Division Two last season and many of those players could make the push for the first team with Stoke looking once again to cut their cloth and focus on youth development. Stoke have been excellent at youth promotion, giving thousands of minutes of football to players U23. Expect the same this season.
A notable youngster is Emre Tezgel. The striker scored seven goals for Stoke’s U18s aged just fifteen years old and looks set to be a dynamite prospect in his first full season as a scholarship player.
| U23 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Nathan Broome |
| CB | Lewis Macari |
| CB | William Forrester |
| RB | Kieran Coates |
| LB | Edward Jones |
| CM | Dan Malone |
| CM | Tom Sparrow |
| CM | Gabriel Adebambo |
| RW | D’Margio Wright-Phillips |
| LW | Douglas James-Taylor |
| CF | Christian Norton |
| U18 Projected Starters | |
|---|---|
| Position | |
| GK | Xander Parke |
| CB | Josh Roney |
| CB | David Okagbue |
| RB | Tom Curl |
| LB | Jake Cartwright |
| CM | Jack Griffiths |
| CM | Ryan Malbon |
| CM | Ted Cargill |
| RW | Sam Knowles |
| LW | Shilo Waldo |
| CF | Emre Tezgel |
Players in Profile - Three to Watch in 2021/2022
Christian Norton
- Position: CF
- Age: 20
- Nationality: Welsh
Having joined from Southampton in 2020, Christian Norton made a good impact on the Stoke U23 squad scoring five times and making six appearances in the Stoke first team. Norton is a long-legged centre forward with a slight frame, a good target in the air and accomplished in the press. Although not a prolific goalscorer there is plenty of potential to work with for the Welsh U21 international. Norton is on the fringes of a permanent call up to the first team with his striker partner at U23 level, Ethon Varian, having already left the club on loan.
D’Margio Wright-Phillips
- Position: RW
- Age: 19
- Nationality: English
The son of Shaun Wright-Phillips, D’Margio plays the same position but is a very different type of winger. More of a wide forward than a true winger, he likes to attack the penalty area often ending up as the centre forward on the end of crosses from the left wing. He’s quick but more heavy-set than his father and as a result is a touch less explosive. He makes up for that pace with a strong running style and is tall enough to be a threat aerially, especially when playing up against full backs. After failing to make the grade at Man City, he joined Stoke in February and has already worked his way into the first team picture, becoming a mainstay of the Stoke team during this pre-season.
Lewis Macari
- Position: CB
- Age: 19
- Nationality: Scottish
Grandson of Lou Macari, the former Stoke season ticket holder is a central defender making an impression on the Stoke first team during pre-season. Also capable of operating at right back, and probably this would be his route to the first team, Macari is comfortable playing out from the back and has pace to compete with any forward line. Although he isn’t one of the biggest defenders, he is still solid in the air and has been a goal scoring threat when he comes forward for set pieces. Having moved into the first team squad for the first time this season in May, Macari now has the momentum to press for more involvement.