Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross is ahead of schedule as he recovers from a broken ankle, according to club coach Rory Delap.

Image source, Reuters

Shawcross, 31, was hurt while making a sliding clearance in a pre-season friendly in July against Leicester.

Centre-back Shawcross, who won an England cap in 2012, has been with Stoke since the summer of 2007 and has played 414 times for the club.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City fans should now see the best of Badou Ndiaye after his return to the team, his manager's said.

Image source, Getty Images

The midfielder hasn't played for the Potters since the beginning of last season after making it clear he wanted to play in a higher league in the summer.

But his return to the side couldn't halt Stoke's poor start to the season as they lost 2-1 to Bristol City, their seventh game without a win in the Championship.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores is "positive for the future" after seeing his side fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Arsenal in his first game back in charge.

Watford fight back from two goals down at half-time to draw at home to Arsenal in Quique Sanchez Flores' first match since being reappointed.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery says his side were not good enough in the second half of their 2-2 draw against Watford.

A newly promoted team with an Englishman at left-back are shaking up the established order in the Portuguese top-flight and sitting top of the league.

Stoke City boss Nathan Jones pleads for patience after seeing Bristol City come from behind to beat the Championship's bottom club.

Bolton shipping another hatful of goals and Southend United finally getting off the mark are among the things you may have missed in the EFL.

Quique Sanchez Flores begins his second spell in charge of Watford with a dramatic draw against Arsenal, as his side fight back from 2-0 down.

Quique Sanchez Flores says it was an easy decision to return for a second spell in charge of Watford.

Premier League clubs are told VAR failed to overturn four incorrect decisions in the first four rounds of matches this season.

Mark Lawrenson takes on MOTDx stars Chelcee Grimes, Craig Mitch and Reece Parkinson to make predictions for the latest round of Premier League fixtures.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says manager Nathan Jones will "be given time and support and encouragement" after a difficult start to the season.

They've picked up just one point from their first six Championship games and Coates added: "He's the most disappointed man of all, but he'll come through it."

Image source, Getty Images

Coates also said they'd done a lot of research before choosing Jones and he doesn't want Stoke to be a club which frequently switches managers.

He also raised the example of managers such as Sir Alex Fergusson who found success after being given time by their clubs.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

The Stoke City manager, Nathan Jones, has said "there's not masses wrong" with his team.

They're bottom of the Championship table with just one point from the first six games, but Jones argued: "between both boxes we're an excellent side. To be fair we're probably scoring enough to win games."

Image source, Getty Images

Jones went on to explain: "What's happened is: when we haven't scored, then we've conceded. And then when we have scored, we've conceded even more."

Stoke are at home to fifth-place Bristol City at the weekend.

Ex-Reading striker Dave Kitson opens up on his mental health struggle, and warns of an "epidemic" in football.

Former England striker Michael Owen reveals how he 'hates watching films' and didn't commute to Newcastle every day in a helicopter as he busts internet rumours.

Watford reappoint Quique Sanchez Flores as manager after announcing the exit of Javi Gracia.

Matt Sandoz
Stoke City commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Stoke City defender Nathan Collins could become their permanent captain one day, according to one of the club's coaches.

Image source, Getty Images

The 18-year-old's already skippered the Potters twice this season.

BBC Radio Stoke Sport

Stoke City manager Nathan Jones says he realises he can't keep asking the fans for patience if performances fail to improve on the pitch.

Stoke have lost five of their first six league games and sit at the bottom of the Championship table with just one point.

Jones said: "I know I'm not doing OK and I know the team's not doing OK."

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke are at home to Bristol City on Saturday and Jones said: "We're not giving [fans] what they deserve at the minute and I'll take full responsibility for that.

"I can keep asking for patience, but we have to give them something, so that's a difficult thing at the minute."

Striker Stefano Okaka joins Italian side Udinese from Watford on a three-year deal.