Kurt Zouma has a point to prove but a lack of creativity could mean Stoke are ripe for relegation

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  • MANAGER

    Mark Hughes

    STAR MAN

    Xherdan Shaqiri

    LAST SEASON

    13th

    TOP SCORER

    Peter Crouch (7)

    KEY INS

    Darren Fletcher (West Brom, free), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea, loan)

    Darren Fletcher

    Darren Fletcher

    KEY OUTS

    Marko Arnautovic (Stoke, £20m), Jonathan Walters (Burnley, £3m), Phil Bardsley (Burnley, £700k)

    REASONS TO BE POSITIVE

    No matter the season, no matter the squad, no matter the opposition – Stoke will seemingly always finish around mid-table and fans will continue to enjoy Premier League football.

    REASONS TO BE PESSIMISTIC

    A lack of arrivals means an average squad is treading water and they could be caught, especially as their once-resiliant defence appears to be in decline.

    ONE TO WATCH

    Until his ACL in 2016, Kurt Zouma was the future of the Chelsea and France defence. Has a point to prove and will have an eye on Russia 2018.

    Kurt Zouma

    Kurt Zouma

    EXPECTATION

    Ahead of their 10th successive top-flight season the goal is to halt last season’s slide and rediscover their hard-to-beat mentality.

    REALITY

    Lack goals, have lost one of their most creative players in Arnautovic and appear ripe for a relegation fight.

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