Birmingham City hope to make it two wins from two this week as they travel to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City in the EFL Championship.
Blues were in FA Cup action on Tuesday night and beat Hull City in dramatic fashion to book their place into the fourth round. Jason Lokilo opened the scoring for the Tigers but Jay Stansfield equalised and then in the third minute of stoppage time Koji Miyoshi scored the winner. It only took Tony Mowbray on his second attempt to win a game, whereas his predecessor Wayne Rooney only won after six games.
No injury concerns occured during the match against Hull but there were three absentees. Lukas Jutkiewicz and Neil Etheridge were both missing - and you'd imagine they would have featured had they been deemed fit. Both are expected to be out for the next few weeks and won't be in contention for either Saturday or against Leicester City at the end of the month.
Defender Emmanuel Aiwu missed the game through illness and he will be closely monitored going in to the game at the weekend. Aiwu played five minutes as a substitute against Swansea City at the weekend.
It's been less than a month since the two sides met on Boxing Day and the Potters won in convincing fashion. Jordan Thompson, Lynden Gooch and Andre Vidigal were all on target in what was the beginning of the end for Rooney. Three points and three places separate the two teams ahead of kick-off with Stoke in 17th and Birmingham City in 20th. The hosts are on a seven game unbeaten run in the league and defeated Rotherham United 1-0 in their last match.
Stoke City have a few doubts to think about with some players close to a return. Here's the latest injury and team news ahead of Stoke City v Birmingham City.
1. Neil Etheridge - out
The Phillipines international has suffered an injury in training. He did not feature against Hull City on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images
![Tony Mowbray said on January 16: "Etheridge got injured yesterday [Monday]. I’m guessing it’s a hamstring but it might be a calf.
"What do managers know, eh? What I do know is he’s not fit."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/12/30/11/56/GettyImages-1820788359.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Neil Etheridge - out (continued)
Tony Mowbray said on January 16: "Etheridge got injured yesterday [Monday]. I’m guessing it’s a hamstring but it might be a calf. "What do managers know, eh? What I do know is he’s not fit."
3. Bae Junho - doubt
A hip injury ruled the 20-year-old out of Stoke’s win against Rotherham United. He was part of the travelling squad but did not feature amongst the starting 11 or substitutes
4. Bae Junho - doubt (continued)
Coach Peter Cavanagh told Sohail Sahi on Radio Stoke: "Junho picked up a little knock in training, on his hip, and it's been a little bit too sore. “That's disappointing because I think he's been showing some real good form of late but it also gives opportunities to others.”