Latest news from Stoke City as Michael Carrick summons familiar faces to Manchester United, the Potters' run of home games and two special events planned for this weekend
15:34, 13 Jan 2026
Stoke City fans celebrates a 1-0 win over QPR, a third victory in a row to start the new year.
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Stoke City fans celebrates a 1-0 win over QPR, a third victory in a row to start the new year.(Image: Zachary Locke)
Stoke City are playing seven out of nine games at home for only the 10th season in their long history.
An FA Cup third round win at the bet365 Stadium against Coventry on Saturday has been followed by pulling Fulham out of the hat for the fourth round, also at home on the weekend of February 14.
There are also league home matches against Queens Park Rangers (Saturday, January 17, 3pm), Middlesbrough (Wednesday, January 21, 8pm), Southampton (Saturday, January 31, 12.30pm), Leicester City (Saturday, February 21, 12.30pm), and Oxford United (Wednesday, February 25, 8pm).
The last time that Stoke played as many as seven out of nine matches at home was in 2011/12. That run included knocking Spurs out of the League Cup, beating Besiktas and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Europa League (and Demba Ba's hat-trick in a win for Newcastle, which we are still trying to forget).
Stoke midfielder Ben Pearson told The Sentinel today: "January and February are massive. I think the main goal is to be either in the top six or within touching distance by probably the end of February and then you're in a strong position for the run in. These next 10 games will be crucial for keeping in the pack and building some ground on the teams above us. We need to aim for being in with a shout with 10 or 15 games to go."
This kind of home:away ratio happened in 2000/01, when Stoke reached the Division Two play-offs, too and in 1992/93, when Stoke were crowned Division Two champions. - as well as 1989/90, when they were relegated from Division Two, and 1976/77, when they were relegated from the top flight.
The only fly in the ointment for this stat is that Stoke will have to squeeze in an away trip to Charlton Athletic at some point. That game was scheduled for Valentine's Day but was postponed after Stoke's cup progress and currently has no date.
Either way, it's at least five of seven at home, which is a nice breather compared to a run of four out of five away in the autumn which included trips to Middlesbrough, Millwall and Portsmouth.
Home comforts
January 10, FA Cup third round: Stoke 1 Coventry 0January 17, Championship: Stoke v QPRJanuary 21, Championship: Stoke v MiddlesbroughJanuary 24, Championship: Birmingham v StokeJanuary 31, Championship: Stoke v SouthamptonFebruary 7, Championship: West Brom v StokeWeekend of February 14, FA Cup fourth round: Stoke v FulhamFebruary 21, Championship: Stoke v LeicesterFebruary 25, Championship: Stoke v Oxford
Familiar faces at Man Utd
Former Stoke City academy director Steve Holland and ex-Stoke defender Jonathan Woodgate are expected to make up the new Manchester United backroom team under Michael Carrick.
Holland, who has ben Chelsea coach and Gareth Southgate's England number two since leaving Stoke, is in line to become interim boss Carrick's assistant at Old Trafford.
Woodgate, who worked alongside Carrick at Middlesbrough, has been lined up to join him again now until at least the end of the season.
This follows former Stoke midfielder Darren Fletcher's brief reign as caretaker Man Utd boss after the exit of Ruben Amorim. The new regime will be in charge for Saturday's Premier League derby against Manchester City.
A clean sheet and win hat-trick
Stoke have secured three clean sheets and three successive wins for the first time in just over five years.
Tommy Simkin's emergency return in goal and a back four of centre-halves - Maksym Talovierov, Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips and Ben Gibson or Bosun Lawal - have kept shut outs in victories over Hull, Norwich and Coventry.
Michael O'Neill managed that twice as manager - once in November 2021 and once in October 2020. The previous time before that was November 2006 under Tony Pulis, which was also the last time they went past three. Stoke went five then as they made a drive towards the Championship play-offs.
Annual memorial ahead of QPR game
Stoke will use the QPR game on Saturday to pay tribute to fans, former players, staff and coaches who have died in the last 12 months.
The club have picked the first home league game of the year for a big screen compilation that marks all those with a connection to Stoke City who have been lost in 2025. Those who are being remembered will also feature in that day's match programme and via the club's social media platforms.
Fans are also invited to a celebration of life service at Stoke Minster on January 17, starting at 11 and finishing at about 12pm. The service will be led by Reverend Geoff Eze.
The deadline for inclusion in the matchday programme has now passed. All entries for the big screen must be received by midday on Thursday, January 15. Email via remembrance@stokecityfc.com, attaching a photograph of their loved one together with their name and years of life (i.e. 1950-2024).
George Eastham induction
George Eastham is to be posthumously inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame this weekend.
The club legend and one of the most important players in English football history will be honoured at a special ceremony when Stoke host QPR.
Representatives from the museum will present a trophy to Stoke and Eastham's family.
He was born in Blackpool in 1936 and emerged as one of the finest inside forwards in the country from the 1950s through to the 1970s. He was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad and scored the winning goal for Stoke in the 1972 League Cup final at Wembley.
He also played a pivotal role in transforming players' rights by successfully challenging the retain-and-transfer system in a landmark legal case. Upon hanging up his boots he briefly managed Stoke and, having set up home in South Africa, was a regular visitor back to meet up with his old friends and teammates in North Staffordshire.
Tim Desmond, the National Football Museum chief executive, said: “George Eastham was not only a fantastic footballer but a true pioneer whose bravery reshaped the game for generations to come.
"From his part in the 1966 World Cup squad to his historic League Cup victory with Stoke City, unprecedented success followed his career. Off the pitch, his work for improved player welfare, and use of football for good are a shining example of what the hall of fame represents. We are honoured to induct George and ensure his legacy is celebrated and remembered.”
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