Stoke changes starting to show results - Robins

Wed, July 29, 2026 at 5:09 PM UTC

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Stoke City boss Mark Robins says the changes that have been made to the way the squad trains are starting to show "really good signs" in an effort to avoid a repeat of their injury crisis last season.

Robins would not elaborate on what is different about their preparation regime for games this season but was adamant they had to do something after the way 2025-26 was undermined by having so many players unavailable for long periods.

"I'm not going into that [what's changed] but you can't keep doing the same things can you?" he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"On the back of a really disappointing campaign last year, something had to give, so we just looked at a lot of other things.

"We've changed the way we train because of last year. We've still got a long way to go, even though we've only got a couple of weeks until the first game.

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"The work that we're doing is standing them in good stead and they're putting the work in. There's some really good signs."

Among the changes the club have made off the field is a revamp of their sports science department with the re-appointment of Damian Roden as head of medical and performance.

In addition, former players Erik Pieters and Danny Pugh have taken coaching roles in the academy under new director Jack Higgins.

Robins said he "really liked" the new support teams and was enjoying working with them.

"You've got a synergy that you have to have for things to function properly. So there are a lot of conversations, meetings in the morning and plan for the day, meetings at the end of the day to make sure you're ready for the next day. And you go on," he said.

"It's been good so far and will get better over time."

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Source: “AOL Sports”