Robins glad to be back after 'strange' international break
- Published
Stoke City boss Mark Robins has said the international break has been "strange" with players coming back later into the week.
Stoke had 14 players called up for international duty which has made planning and preparation for Saturday's game against Birmingham City (15:00 BST) additionally challenging.
Robins' side have started the season with three wins from their opening four games, their only defeat coming in the most recent fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
"There's been a mixture of rest and recovery and running repairs and training, I gave them a few days off at the start and a few days off at the end and worked in the middle which generally works OK," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke.
"I managed to get work into the ones that are remaining, there's almost 50% of the squad away on international duty and at various contributions for each national team and for each individual, so we try and factor that into what happens this week.
"Clearly it's punctuated because they don't come back in until later in the week so it's strange because you need to get the work into them, they need to do the physical stuff.
"That's what it's been like, and now we're working into what is a really tough opponent with Birmingham City."
Robins has praised the work conducted by Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies.
Davies joined the Blues in June 2024 and led them to a record-breaking season in League One finishing with 111 points.
Birmingham have won two and drawn one of their opening four games with their first defeat coming in their last game against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.
"I think it's well documented, what they're trying to do with the stadium that they're talking about building and the rejuvenation of that club is clear for everyone to see and he's been a catalyst for that in the main role," Robins said.
"It's a tough game, they're very aggressive, they work really hard, and they've got some real talented players in the team so, you're under no illusions, it's a tough game but a brilliant game for us to restart with."
