Tyrese: Potters Can Fly In Near Future

CAMPBELL HAILS FRESH APPROACH

- Chris Dunlavy

STOKE striker Tyrese Campbell says the Potters are finally on the up after being released from the tactical straitjacket of Nathan Jones.

Jones, 46, took charge in January but won just six of his 38 matches in charge and was sacked last month with Stoke lying bottom of the pile in the Championship.

Widely criticized for his devotion to a diamond midfield, Jones’ determination to make his players fit the system frequently forced square pegs into round holes.

Wingers Sam Clucas and James McClean both had stints at full-back, whilst a defeat at Millwall saw center-halves deployed as wing-backs.

But the arrival of new manager Michael O’Neill from Northern Ireland saw Stoke revert to a basic 4-3-3 and the switch paid instant dividends with a 4-2 victory at Barnsley.

“Even watching from the bench, all our players looked a lot more comfortable,” said Campbell, an unused sub in O’Neill’s first game.