Mark Robins will give his Stoke City players a much-needed rest during the international break, before stepping up preparations for the run-in next week.
Robins, who watched his side concede a late penalty to lose 1-0 to Millwall on Saturday, has been in charge for 16 games since succeeding Narcis Pelach and has won four and lost six leaving the Potters just one point above the relegation zone with eight games to go.
The morale-boosting victory over Blackburn in midweek was sandwiched between two heartbreakers as late goals at Coventry City and the New Den cost Robins a couple of points.
In an ideal world the manager would have his full squad available for work on the training ground – but Robins knows that isn’t possible. “There’s always things you want to do, but we’ve got six away on international duty.
“We’ve got players that you’re hoping that are going to come back OK, we’ve got players coming back from injury, so you can’t do a massive amount with them.
“We’re going to work a few days next week, but I’m going to give them some time off, we’ll work the middle of it and we’ll give them time off at the beginning and at the end of it and then work a full week into QPR.”
Stoke have Andre Vidigal, Ali Al-Hamadi,Bae Junho, Jordan Thompson and Lewis Koumas all on senior international duty, while there are injury concerns over several players.
Robins’ men return on Saturday week to face QPR before travelling to Preston. Their final match of the season is at Derby County who currently occupy the last relegation spot but who have picked up under John Eustace and registered three straight wins.
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