Stoke City continue to ascend the Championship table following their 2-1 away victory over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, and with another international break rapidly approaching, attention could be turning to the January transfer window sooner rather than later.

Stoke ground out a 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Tuesday night at Ewood Park courtesy of a wonder-strike from Jack McGlynn, a fortunate own-goal from their perspective, and officiating going their way after Andri Gudjohnsen's late equaliser was ruled out for a push on Ben Wilmot.

The Potters head to Portsmouth on Saturday with just one defeat in their last 11 league games and high on confidence, though they will need to be at their very best once again if they are to come away with anything from Fratton Park.

Robins has found a starting XI and system that is working a treat, and one player in particular has been crucial to the recent success the former Coventry City boss has found in the Potteries.

Stoke City completed the addition of Ben Johnson on loan from Ipswich Town in the summer

Following the change in financial rules, Stoke were once again allowed to spend money in the most recent summer window, and, along with the £10.5 million windfall they received following the sale of Sorba Thomas to Hull City, brought in numerous players that have hit the ground running.

Ethan Galbraith, Djibril Soumare, Luca Bombino, Jack McGlynn, and Luke Graham have all starred so far, whilst Justin Devenny, George Hirst, Joshua Griffiths, and Svante Ingelsson took the Potters' spending to in excess of £30 million.

However, arguably their best addition, in terms of price to impact, has to be Ben Johnson, who joined on loan from Ipswich Town after it became apparent to the former West Ham United defender that he was no longer a part of plans at Portman Road, as Stoke have massively benefitted from this decision.

Ben Johnson's excellent performances have limited Junior Tchamadeu's minutes at Stoke City

Johnson, 26, started his first handful of games as a right-back in a conventional back four for the Potters, but following three defeats on the spin and the departure of star winger Thomas, Robins decided to switch to a 3-4-2-1 shape.

That decision has not only likely saved his job, but thrust Stoke well into Championship play-off contention this campaign, as Johnson has played every single league minute since his arrival, moving into the right wing-back position, as well as covering on the right side of the back three on occasion.

His performances at right wing-back have been excellent, and as a result, Cameroonian international Junior Tchamadeu has suffered a dip in minutes, with the 22-year-old facing a battle to break his way back into the side.

Tchamadeu suffered a knee injury last winter whilst away at AFCON, ruling him out for much of the second half of last season, before suffering a further setback in pre-season, missing the first couple of months of the campaign.

Johnson has nailed down the right win-back spot as his own in Tchamadeu's absence, as now the Cameroonian faces a battle to break his way back into Robins' plans.

Junior Tchamadeu will surely be hoping Stoke City don't sanction Ben Johnson's permanent move from Ipswich Town in January

After Stoke head to Portsmouth this weekend, a two-week international break will ensue, as whilst things go quiet on the pitch, things will almost certainly liven up off it.

Teams across the Championship and the rest of Europe will assess their current situations and squads; plans for the January window will be put in place, and in Stoke's case, it will be no surprise if the Potters look to make Johnson's move a permanent one.

However, Tchamadeu, who signed a new two-year deal in the summer, will surely be urging the Potters not to push through with any deal, as his game time is already looking precarious; the permanent capture of Johnson will only serve to damage his minutes further.

Do you think Stoke should look to sign Ben Johnson from Ipswich permanently in January, or is this one they should avoid? Share your thoughts below!

Stoke City boss Mark Robins must be weighing up a permanent deal for Ben Johnson this winter

With Johnson emerging as a key figure in the Stoke squad since his move from Portman Road, Robins must be considering making his addition permanent at the earliest opportunity.

Still just 26, the former West Ham defender ought to be in and around the prime of his career right now, and if Stoke can agree a healthy fee with Ipswich over the permanent move of Johnson, Robins should be jumping at the chance.

For Tchamadeu, however, he will be holding his breath ahead of the January window, which, by then, he will hope to have fought his way back into the side for good.