Bristol City are set to receive an injury boost for their trip to face Stoke City this weekend, with striker Lorent Tolaj expected to be available. Manager Lee Johnson confirmed the former Port Vale forward has recovered from a minor issue and is in contention for Saturday's match at the bet365 Stadium.
Tolaj missed Bristol City's midweek fixture but has trained fully ahead of the weekend.
The potential return adds a fresh option for the visitors, who currently sit 16th in the <a href="/standings">Championship table</a>. Stoke City, in contrast, are enjoying a strong start to the season and occupy sixth place with 19 points from 11 games. Their recent form shows four wins from their last five matches, a run that includes a 1-0 victory at Derby County last Friday, sealed by Luke Graham's goal in the 49th minute.
That win at Pride Park kept Stoke firmly in the early promotion picture. They are just four points behind leaders Swansea City. The Potters' next challenge is to maintain that momentum against a Bristol City side they will face at home.
Stoke's own squad is largely fit, with no new major <a href="/injuries">injury concerns</a> reported following the Derby match. The team has shown resilience, bouncing back immediately from a 3-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough with that clean-sheet win on the road. George Hirst, who provided an assist in the Middlesbrough game, is likely to lead the line again.
Saturday's match kicks off at 3pm and presents an opportunity for Stoke to consolidate their top-six position. The last meeting between the sides at the bet365 Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw during the 2025/26 season. Stoke's current defensive record of 16 goals conceded is among the better marks in the division, a foundation they will look to build upon. The team's <a href="/fixtures">next league game</a> after this is away to Preston North End on October 31st.
The original report is at The Sentinel
