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Obviously Glen Little will be one of the three, he is now at Bolton on a month’s loan and today Stan has expressed doubts about Ian Moore’s fitness and says he might be fit for the bench. With news that the third signing Andy Todd will be playing at the back it is looking as though club captain Graham Branch could be left out or moved elsewhere, maybe a return to left back at the expense of Mo Camara.
Lee Roche again remains doubtful and with no news on Paul Weller then if Mooro isn’t fit enough we could still be, despite the three new signings down to just four subs.
If indeed Branchy does miss out then the Clarets will probably line up: Brian Jensen, Dean West, David May, Andy Todd, Mo Camara, Luke Chadwick, Robbie Blake, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Gareth Farrelly, Delroy Facey.
That would see Paul Scott, Graham Branch, Alan Moore and Matt O’Neill on the subs bench along with Ian Moore if fit.
With Wayne Thomas passing a fitness test Tony Pulis has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from but he has warned his players that it will be a difficult game and he thinks that our transfer dealings this week have made us a stronger squad.
"They have brought in some experienced people this week who have played in and have been promoted from Division One," said Pulis. "So we will be playing a slightly different side and it will be a very difficult game for us. I think they will be stronger for their dealings this week.
"We will have to be really on our game to get the right result. They went to Gillingham and won 3-0 and they come here with a better team than that."
Stoke are expected to field the following team: Ed de Goey, Wayne Thomas, Paul Williams, Marcus Hall, Darel Russell, Keith Andrews, John Eustace, Clive Clarke, Chris Greenacre, Gifton Noel-Williams, Carl Asaba.