Stoke City return home for clashes with Bristol City and Preston North End and Mark Robins wants to keep momentum going

Mark Robins is still looking to coax more out of this new-look Stoke City squad and test its potential over a Championship winter.

Ten new faces were added in the summer transfer window and there have been signs of the quality that has arrived over the past eight matches, winning six.

But Robins is looking for more as he tries to instil a new culture of higher expectations, pushing on a group of players to see what they can achieve.

He said: “There is still a lot more to do and in every group you look at the ability and how quickly they can go through the gears and how far they can go as a group. I still think there is improvement in them and that is exciting. Primarily we’ve got to keep putting that graft in.”

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There was a lot of planned change early in the summer off the pitch, with an overhaul of the medical and performance department.

But decisions went down to the wire on the pitch, with the deadline day sale of Sorba Thomas to Hull City meaning that Stoke had the available funds for final incoming business. Justin Devenny, Jack McGlynn and Luca Bombino joined in the final few hours.

Robins said: “There was a lot of change and we’ve got different people, different personalities, different expertise put into different places. Then it’s about working to bring it all together.

“Also the players and how we could do things felt different. Then at the end of the window when you’re looking to try to make some changes for the better. We lost Sorba, who was a really big player for us last season, and to do the work we could do on the back of that, enabling us to make some of the signings we’ve made, was really important.

“That helped us hugely in terms of what came next. It’s still really early days. Sometimes things happen for a reason and we’ve got a really good squad and group of players and that’s a good place to be. You’ve seen it and it’s there.

“There are ups and downs in a season and inevitably there will be times when things don’t go right for us so it’s how we react in those moments, which we haven’t quite seen yet.

“But I’m happier with where the squad is now than at any point since I’ve worked through the door. Then we work every day on how we can get better with unit work or team work or with individuals. Those things happen on a daily basis in a really good, productive, healthy way.

“Then you’re looking at the other side of things and players who aren’t necessarily starting – and some who have been used to starting and have to really put the graft in to be around it or else they fall by the wayside. It’s something most people don’t see. Egos come into play and can damage a person’s career. They are working hard, all of them are doing that.

“You look around and at this time of year there are snivels, like I’m sure there are in every camp, and you try to mitigate against that, which is a challenge that gets thrown at you every winter.”

Next up is Bristol City, who will also be eyeing up a challenge for a place in the expanded play-offs this season. They have lost their last two, both 1-0, but Robins is not taking their threat lightly.

He said: “They’ve got really good players in the team and it’s a team that has been gradually put together but lose players and bring more in to try to develop and sell. That’s their model. They’re a side that can be really good on the attack. They don’t mess about necessarily. They try to get the ball forward, they’ve got strong runners, they’ve got players who can create and score goals, they’re aggressive.

“They are big at the back. Luke McNally is well known in these parts and to me. He’s come back from a horrific injury he sustained last year and he will make a difference for them. Rob Atkinson is there, Rob Dickie too. They’ve got some really good players. Up front, midfield too. Jason Knight is still performing to a high level. Their experience and know how is there. Lorent Tolaj has been injured but is expected to come back. He works his socks off. Scott Twine is very good not just at dead balls but in open play. They will present a challenge for us no doubt about that.

“It will depend on how good we can be and we need another performance of a high level to get anything. On top of that we’ve got a named storm which will have some impact I’m sure and we’ll have to be aware of that and the wind which might affect any game – but we have to concentrate on us, not just the elements.”