Watch live on Sky Sports Football Red Button and the Sky Sports app from 7.55pm on Tuesday; kick-off is at 8pm
Tuesday 10 December 2019 11:44, UK
Stoke face Luton in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday (kick-off 8pm), live on Sky Sports Football Red Button.
Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross could boost the Potters' relegation fight by making his long-awaited return against Luton. Shawcross has not played since breaking his leg during a pre-season friendly in July but he was an unused substitute on Saturday as Stoke suffered a third straight Sky Bet Championship defeat at Hull.
Fellow defender Cameron Carter-Vickers missed out at the weekend through illness and will be checked. Senegal midfielder Badou Ndiaye has a virus and Peter Etebo will step up his fitness after a thigh injury with an appearance for the Under-23s.
George Moncur hopes to make his first start since September after being Luton's hero on Saturday. Moncur scored the injury-time winner against Wigan after coming off the bench for the final half-hour.
Luton's injury problems have deepened, with Dan Potts sustaining a groin injury. Izzy Brown (hamstring), Brendan Galloway (ruptured patella) and Danny Hylton (knee) were already on the sidelines.
Following the brief renaissance brought by Michael O'Neill's arrival as manager, Stoke have slipped back to their old ways and are now four points from safety having suffered three successive defeats.
aving lost 7-0 to Brentford on November 30, Luton strengthened their bid to stave off relegation at the weekend with a 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Wigan.
This is the first league meeting between Stoke and Luton since February 2007, a goalless draw.
Luton's last match against Stoke in any competition was in the second round of the League Cup in August 2015, drawing 1-1 before going out 8-7 on penalties.
Stoke have won two of their last four home league games (L2), more than they had in their previous 15 at the Bet365 Stadium (W1 D7 L7).
Since winning 2-1 at Blackburn in September, Luton have lost their last five away league games by an aggregate score of 3-17.
Stoke have won fewer home points than any other Championship side this season. Indeed, their haul of seven points is their lowest ever after 10 home games in their league history (converting to three points/win).
Luton's games have seen more goals than any other Championship side this season (68), with the Hatters scoring 27 and conceding 41.
I'm beginning to wonder when the tide will turn for Stoke, to be honest. There seem to be deep-rooted issues at the club and, though the appointment of Michael O'Neill provided a brief period of respite, three defeats on the spin have left them four points adrift of safety.
Luton, though, are beginning to pull clear of the bottom three and reacted to the heavy 7-0 defeat at Brentford in perfect style, with a last-gasp win against Wigan at Kenilworth Road.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
