With Tom Edwards set to return to Stoke City training following an impressive loan spell in The States as soon as next week, what kind of player will Edwards return as and how could he be the key to The Potters promotion push?
Versatility
When Edwards temporarily left the club at the start of the year, he left only ever having played at right back for Stoke, usually in a four, rarely in a five.
His move to New York has completely revolutionised the Stafford-born man into a new player, able to play a variety of positions, including a right wing-back on a regular basis, a right-sided centre-back to a back three, a holding midfielder and a central midfielder.
Versatility is a desirable quality in any player for Championship sides, with a gruelling 46-games being played. A player who can play such a wide set of positions allows for the manager to make minimal changes to his eleven, paving the way for consistency in his selection.
These are all positions that Michael O’Neill’s injury-riddled squad are currently lacking in, with the likes of Harry Souttar, Nick Powell, Jordan Thompson, and former Charlton man Alfie Doughty, who has struggled with niggling injuries following his £500K arrival in January, all struggling to stay fit.
Edwards on-the-ball ability has allowed him to thrive in any position this season in the MLS, with his range of passing and his capability to keep the ball from opposition players making him a very reliable midfielder, full back, or wide centre half.
It is worth noting that Edwards should still be seen as a right-wing back, with that being the best role to draw out his strongest assets – getting forward to whip a cross into the box.
Eagerness to Return
One department Stoke had struggled in for many years was recruiting players who were not only talented but were also a good fit for the football club and wanted to play for the red and white of The Potters.
Following the arrival of former Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill this has improved significantly, as O’Neill cut the fat from the squad, removing any and all players who were not 100 percent committed to Stoke City Football Club from Staffordshire.
With that in mind, reintroducing a player that is not only desperate to return and prove himself to Stoke fans, but is also a fan himself, surely would not hurt the cause.
Edwards is that player and his agent Gary Mellor has confirmed as much in a recent interview with The Sentinel stating: “ New York Red Bulls are very keen to sign him and he’s loved it there but he wants to train at Stoke and fight for his place.
“Tom will be coming back a completely different person, more mature and the most confident as a player that he’s been in his career”.
Returning to a revamped squad full of passion for the club they play for, as shown by their celebrations following a late winner from Edwards’ good friend Tyrese Campbell against Peterborough at the weekend.
Tom Edwards will fit into this squad nicely as both a player and a person.
An Improved & Quality Footballer
Edwards’ talent and ability has never been in doubt, looking at his best qualities before he was loaned out to the MLS in January and to Fleetwood before that, such as his sniper-like crossing, technique on the ball and daisy-cutting shots being highlighted in his breakthrough season in 2018-2019.
Tom Edwards has improved on these qualities and some of the weaker areas of his game, for example, his defensive ability while protecting back post and his general awareness and positioning, a rise in aggressive play has also been praised by many in America, with his loanee manager Gerhard Struber nick-naming him a “Machine from England”. It is clear to see that Edwards will be coming back as a much-improved player and person.
The most impressive and exciting addition to his game has to the level of quality he has from dead-ball situations as he brings home Rory Delap-esque long-throws, killer free-kicks, and corners.
Many teams in the Championship use long-throwing as a tactic to create chances in the modern game, with Cardiff being just one example of a team who use them often in order to benefit their above average squad when it comes to height. Edwards’ reintroduction could have a similar effect for The Mighty Potters, one of the only sides in the Championship who do not possess a true long thrower, with 18 of the 26 players in the current registered Stoke squad being six feet or above, making them a major threat from set-pieces, especially a long and flat throw or a dangerously fast corner.
Finally, despite not scoring one in his young career, the local lad has discovered a knack for causing problems from direct free kicks, hitting the bar only a few weeks ago from one as he aggressively whipped it towards goal.
Conclusion
It seems inevitable that Tom Edwards will return to Stoke in the coming weeks, with O’Neill and assistant manager Dean Holden reportedly excited at the prospect of his return to the club.
With that said, he will come back a vastly improved player and an incredibly matured man, ready to prove himself ready to play for his boyhood club, a dream every football fan up and down the country craves to live.
It may take him time to readjust to life back in the Potteries however I believe he deserves a real go at helping Stoke return to the Premier League and it may take time, but once he settles back into life as a Stoke City player, he will thrive under a wonderful coach in Michael O’Neill.
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