Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher has hailed the 'amazing' impact of midfielder Djibril Soumaré ahead of his side's Championship clash with Sheffield United. The Potters host the Blades on Saturday, 19 September, in a match that sees Soumaré face the club where he spent the 2024-25 season on loan.
Schumacher told reporters that the 27-year-old Frenchman has been a key figure since joining from Leicester City in the summer. "He's been amazing for us," the manager said.
Sheffield United travel to the bet365 Stadium looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town in their last outing. That result, decided by a Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal in the 57th minute, snapped a three-game winning streak. Their recent form reads three wins and two losses from the last five, a sequence of LWWWL.
The Blades' last away trip brought a 2-1 victory at Blackburn on 8 September. Soumaré's performance in the Stoke engine room will be a central tactical battle. Schumacher's comments underline the midfielder's importance to the home side's plans.
Sheffield United's squad for the trip includes several players familiar with Soumaré from his time at Bramall Lane. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.
First reported at thestar.co.uk
