Stoke boss Schumacher praises 'brilliant' young talent

Sol Sidibe, 17, has played in 11 first-team games for Stoke City and has been on the winning side in six of his past seven

Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher has heaped praise on the exciting crop of young talent that has been a key part of his team this season.

The Potters won 1-0 at his previous club Plymouth Argyle in the Championship on Saturday, with their starting XI having an average age of just 22 years old.

Five teenagers were on their bench, with 17-year-olds Sol Sidibe and Jaden Dixon coming on as substitutes as Stoke won at Plymouth for the first time in 11 attempts, stretching back to 1987.

"Young players are doing brilliant for us," Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We are going to need them. They are going to give us that energy, that enthusiasm.

"If they can show the quality in big games like this, then we will be in a good spot."

Stoke's youngest player to start at Home Park was 18-year-old Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas, with the oldest being forward Ryan Mmaee, who is 26.

The only goal of the game was scored by 22-year-old Netherlands Under-21 international winger Million Manhoef.

"These Championship games are so tight and they are always decided by really small margins," Schumacher added.

"When you get opportunities, you have got to show your quality and Million is one of a few in our squad who can do that.

"I thought Sol Sidibe, when he came on, was outstanding."

Schumacher's team sit 11th in the early-season league table, having won and lost two of their four games so far.

Lewis Koumas has hit the ground running at Stoke, scoring twice since joining on loan from Liverpool

Young players 'were so clinical'

Last week, a starting XI with an average age of 20 thumped Middlesbrough 5-0 in the second round of the Carabao Cup - Boro's joint-worst home defeat in their history.

Manhoef netted twice within seven minutes of coming on as a substitute, in a match which saw 18-year-old winger Emre Tezgel show brilliant composure to open the scoring.

"It is what we want to try and build," said Schumacher.

"On Tuesday night, we were so clinical, we managed to get five goals from six big chances."

Tezgel was also on the scoresheet in the first-round win at Carlisle, with the other goal on the night credited to 17-year-old first-team debutant Freddie Anderson, the son of former England defender Viv Anderson.

The only issue for Schumacher is that part of the reason for so many youngsters featuring is because of a lack of available senior players.

"We're short at the moment for experience. We missed Jordan Thompson, who was injured," he admitted.

"A couple of lads are coming back from injury [this] week. Three lads left on transfer deadline day."

Tom Cannon came through Everton's academy, before joining Leicester City a year ago

Stoke were able to bring in striker Tom Cannon and midfielder Tatsuki Seko before the transfer window closed.

Seko, 26, came in from Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, while Cannon, 21, joined on loan from Premier League club Leicester City.

The Republic of Ireland international forward has scored 10 Championship goals in in 33 appearances across spells at the Foxes and Preston North End.

"I said all summer that I want a number nine with a certain profile, the way I like to play," said Schumacher.

"Tom ticks all of the boxes, he's really good, he plays on the shoulder, he's very good in transitional moments.

"If there is space ahead of him, he can be deadly, he's a good finisher. He was in high demand."