Stoke City’s surreal run of injuries continues as they take on Birmingham City
13:45, 24 Jan 2026Updated 13:47, 24 Jan 2026
Mark Robins has endured a freakish run of injuries.(Image: Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
Captain Ben Wilmot has joined the Stoke City injury list in another blow.
Wilmot misses out at Birmingham City (3pm) as well as suspended Bosun Lawal. Mark Robins will be asked for an update later this afternoon.
Steven Nzonzi returns and is captain in a side that has only three recognised defenders. It remains to be seen how the Potters line up and if Robins is changing shape or asking someone to fill in as an emergency in the back line.
Tatsuki Seko is also back in the side while Ben Pearson drops to the bench.
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Aaron Cresswell is also among the substitutes next to under-21s Syd Agina, Jake Griffin, Will Smith, Ruben Curley and Favour Fawunmi.
Birmingham make one change, with new signing Ibrahim Osman replacing Stoke old boy Lewis Koumas.
Stoke: Simkin, Talovierov, Phillips, Bocat, Nzonzi, Seko, Rigo, Junho, Manhoef, Thomas, Cisse. Subs: Fielding, Agina, Cresswell, Dixon, Griffin, Pearson, Smith, Curley, Fawunmi.
Birmingham: Beadle, Klarer, Neumann, Doyle, Seung-hom, Roberts, Osman, Iwata, Stansfield, Wagner, Ducksch. Subs: Allsop, Furuhashi, Wright, Solis, Willumsson, Osayi-Samuel, Fujimoto, Priske, Mazwi.
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