Sorba Thomas was Stoke City player of the season in his first year at the bet365 Stadium.
Sorba Thomas was Stoke City player of the season in his first year at the bet365 Stadium.(Image: Richard Hammersley/Shutterstock)
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Laurence Giani and Josh Griffiths make their Stoke City debuts tonight against Hull while Sorba Thomas starts against the club who seems to be trying to sign him.
Italy youth left-back Giani, aged 18, comes into the defence in front of summer signing Griffiths, with Eric Bocat and Viktor Johansson given the evening off ahead of a big league game at Wolves on Saturday lunchtime. Ben Johnson makes his first start at the bet365 Stadium after joining on loan from Ipswich last week.
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Ben Wilmot resumes the captaincy alongside Luke Graham at centre-half while Ben Pearson starts in midfield next to Ethan Galbraith and Tomas Rigo. Million Manhoef and Robert Bozenik are brought back into the forward line alongside player of the year Thomas.
Stoke have reportedly rejected a bid of up to £7m from Hull, who are splashing new Premier League cash after winning promotion. It is understood that kind of offer falls well short of Stoke's valuation but the Potters will be braced for Hull to return with the kind of package that might tempt them to the table.
Bosun Lawal returns to the bench after injury while youngsters Tyler Martin and Gabriel Kelly are also among the substitutes.
Stoke: Griffiths, Johnson, Giani, Wilmot, Graham, Pearson, Galbraith, Rigo, Manhoef, Thomas, Bozenik. Subs: Fielding, Anderson, Lawal, Kelly, Soumare, Martin, Junho, Gallagher, Hirst.