On July 11th, Stoke City played their first preseason match against Chester FC, securing an impressive 3-0 victory.
The team's performance, under the guidance of Steve Schumacher and Chris Cohen, showed promising results from their preseason training that began on July 1st. This preparation seems to be laying a strong foundation for a competitive season in the EFL Championship.
Three Potters, three touches, third goal.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) July 12, 2024
Match highlights from City's pre-season win at Chester 👇
The goals in this match came from players who represent the bright future of The Potters. The forwards are beginning to consolidate, though it’s early in the preseason and there is still much work ahead. Stoke City’s next preseason match is scheduled for July 17th against Cork City.
Key Players in the Match: Emre Tezgel and Niall Ennis
The scorers for Stoke City were Emre Tezgel and Niall Ennis. Tezgel, who started the match, scored the first two goals in the first half. Niall Ennis, who came on in the second half, scored the third and final goal in the closing moments of the game.
READ MORE: Emre Tezgel Shines for Stoke City in Preseason
Ennis joined The Potters midway through last season and played 14 matches, scoring once in the EFL Championship. In this preseason game, he matched last season's goal tally in just a few minutes of play.
It will be important to monitor the development of players like Niall Ennis throughout the season. While Stoke City fans continue to call for an offensive reinforcement to ensure goals, the first preseason match showed that the future of The Potters is in good hands.
Both Tezgel and Ennis, being relatively young, have promising careers ahead. At 25, Ennis is gaining Steve Schumacher’s trust and could become a key forward for the upcoming season.