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Championship veteran Tony Mowbray might not always be on the same page as Stoke City fans but, as he prepares for what is something like his hundredth season managing in this division, he struck a bit of a chord with his take on forwards. The Blackburn boss reckons that a team needs about 70 goals to be serious challengers for the top eight. In fact, the historical average for the sides ending up from fifth to eighth is about 67, going up to 79 for the top four. Stoke, for context, scored 51 last season, 45 the year before that and 49 in 2023/24. They clearly need more from everyone but particularly the forwards to carry more of their share of the burden. The top scorers in those seasons have been Sorba Thomas (10), Tom Cannon (nine) and Andre Vidigal (seven). “I've constantly said to the strikers and the 10s, if you're going to play 10 for this club or if you're going to play a striker for this club, you have to have assists and goals," said Mowbray in the Lancashire Telegraph. “At the end of the season, because I've been around football a long time, I'm not saying they want to move, but if you ever have ambition to play at a higher level, you have to have numbers. “If you haven't and you play either nine or 10, you ain't going anywhere because nobody's interested; everybody just looks at your numbers – so many appearances with so many goal assists or goals scored.” Mark Robins, as he kicked off the season with a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Oldham, stressed the same point about goals and assists. He said it amid more general praise of Robert Bozenik and he said it amid praise of Bae Junho. It remains to be seen if he can conjure more out of the players he had at his disposal, when available, last term or whether Stoke will hang their hat on who they can bring in during the last three weeks of the transfer window. Sam Gallagher The 30-year-old knows he has a point to prove to everyone. He had to play catch up last year after missing pre-season and didn’t start a game until late December. Hopes of finding a solution to stay available are accompanied by touches of wood but he has worked well through pre-season with a new medical team. He is arguably their biggest project or challenge and the rewards are obvious if they can get it right. In pole position to start up front against Swansea after getting the nod vs Oldham. Got on the end of a couple of decent chances for himself and made one or two for teammates, including a smart header to set up Lamine Cisse in the second half. “Sam did well to 60 minutes,” said Robins. “I think he could have stayed on but no point in risking him.” Lamine Cisse Starting his first full season in England. The 23-year-old thinks he understands what it takes to do well in the Championship and the challenge is to put that into practice. Quick, skilful and a little unpredictable. Led the line against Valencia in the final friendly and can be nuisance when he gets things right. The warning that day was that Championship matches would be significantly different. Versatile and can fill in on either side or down the middle and would be a bonus if he can show he can affect matches from the bench. Sorba Thomas A wonderful first season at Stoke, with 10 goals and 11 assists. The underlying figures might suggest he overperformed but if you put the ball in the right place enough times in the Championship then you deserve all your rewards. Can be talismanic at his best. There must have been contingency plans drawn up for if suitors came calling with big enough bids this summer. But the 27-year-old still at Stoke, in the peak of his career and can hopefully benefit from a couple of tweaks around him, from Eric Bocat over or underlapping or linking with a new central midfield. Million Manhoef The 24-year-old joined Stoke in early 2024 so is one of the longest serving players now given the churn around him. Has a good partnership with Junior Tchamadeu on the right if only Stoke could see more of it. An entertaining dribbler capable of sparks of creativity – but needs those key goal and assist figures to do the talking for him. Spent time on the bench through last winter but has the potential to make himself one of the first names on the teamsheet. Milan Smit Made a loan permanent at the end of the season after a mid-season switch from Go Ahead Eagles. Will have to be ready to take any chance to stake his claim. Is not at the pecking order by the end of pre-season but it’s a meritocracy and scoring goals that will dictate many minutes he gets and how he is judged. Stoke will have to manage a crowded department and it will be interesting how that pans out over the next few weeks and months. Robert Bozenik A tough summer last year following a hard season, leaving crisis club Boavista, he showed an appetite for hard work in the Championship before injury abruptly brought his debut campaign to a halt. Likes to get involved in individual battles with defenders on and off the ball and his presence can be useful – but not as much as goals. A well-taken one-on-one against Oldham will be a boost to confidence and he’ll throw everything at any chance he gets. “He is a proper character,” said Robins. “He’s fighting for his life, for his future, for his place in the team.” Bae Junho Still only 22, the playmaker has shifted from the left flank to the number 10 role during his time at Stoke but hasn’t been able to get himself onto the scoresheet often enough, nor set up enough goals for whoever has played ahead of him. But he has some top class attributes and the way he can turn is nearing on poetic, if only he can make it count. It is interesting that Robins sees other positives in how he plays in that position, praising his energy and will to press and knowing when to do it. Mike Pejic wrote this summer: “He can have better or worse games but he will work all day long. First and foremost, that full graft approach is what you want to see and want I want in my club. That’s number one and it’s a big tick. The big thing in his development is his decision-making process. He’s got to learn what’s right and wrong, learn from his mistakes and make the most of the considerable assets that he has. He’s strong enough, quick enough, skilful enough, he’s got everything in that base – but it’s getting his brain working to make sure those talents correspond with outcomes. “He has to work on his awareness of space, awareness of players, creating space to exploit space, short and long passing, support, movement, runs. Those are all key principles of an individual’s make up and he’s got to tick boxes to get up to seven or eight out of 10 for each one. He’s got to hit those higher standards and, in turn, that will influence his teammates and impact matches. “Sometimes he would benefit from slowing down in his movement and curbing his enthusiasm. Sometimes you might have to stand still entirely or pull out of the way for someone else to get into a dangerous position. As we’ve said so often, it’s about understanding football and making as many right decisions as you can from all the thousands that need to be made during a game. “People can be impatient and moan about his goal record. I would say that at 22, he’s still young and he has almost his entire career in front of him. Sometimes it takes longer to get your brain ticking. One day he will settle.” What do you think? Click HERE to join the debate