Stoke City's pre-season training is underway with Damian Roden back at the helm as head of performance and medical. Roden has returned to Stoke City after a stint in Seattle and Anderlecht, and is tasked with restoring the club to its successful Premier League years.

What is periodisation?

Periodisation is a training approach that involves planning every component of training week by week, to ensure players get fitter as the season progresses and are strongest at the end.

How does it work?

Roden has implemented this approach before at Stoke City, during the days of Mark Hughes, and it led to three consecutive top half finishes in the Premier League. The players bought into the approach and stayed injury free, with the likes of Glenn Whelan being praised for their discipline and work ethic.

What's next for Stoke City?

Stoke City are currently 17th in the Championship, with 55 points from 46 games, and are 40 points behind leaders Coventry. Their recent form has been poor, with 5 consecutive losses, including a 2-0 defeat to Bristol City on May 2, 2026. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League Standing | 17th | | Points | 55 | | Recent Form | LLLLD | | Goals Scored | 51 | | Goals Conceded | 56 |

The club will be looking to turn their fortunes around with Roden's new approach, and with a strong pre-season training programme in place, they will be hoping to improve their fitness and availability for the coming campaign.