Steven Schumacher says his brief tenure at Stoke City was a key step on his managerial path, as he prepares to face his former club for the first time this weekend. The Bolton Wanderers boss will lead his team against a Stoke side sitting seventh in the Championship with 13 points from eight games.

He holds no regrets about the spell, stating it directly led to his current position at Bolton. The 40-year-old believes everything happens for a reason and that the experience was part and parcel of his professional journey.

Stoke's current form under Robins

Mark Robins has overseen a significant upturn since taking charge, with Stoke taking 13 points from the last 15 available. Their recent form reads four wins and a draw from the last five matches, a run that includes victories over Sheffield United and Watford. This has propelled them into the play-off conversation, a stark contrast to the struggles of recent seasons where the club finished no higher than 14th since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

Schumacher's fresh start at Bolton

After leaving Stoke, Schumacher guided Bolton Wanderers to promotion from League One in his first full season. He has begun the current Championship campaign with two wins from his first five games in the dugout. His new side will host Stoke at The Toughsheet Stadium on Saturday, with the visitors bringing a sold-out allocation of 4,600 supporters. Schumacher was keen to praise the Stoke fanbase, noting their consistent loyalty and excellent travel support, which he said was the best thing about the club during his time there.

The fixture renews a rivalry between two founder members of the Football League, with nearly 140 years of history between them. Stoke currently hold an eight-place and three-point advantage over Bolton in the table. Ethan Galbraith, Stoke's top scorer this season with three goals, will be a player to watch in the upcoming clash. Steven Schumacher will lead his Bolton side out against Stoke City at The Toughsheet Stadium on Saturday, October 10th.

The original report is at The Bolton News