Stoke City have had rum luck with injuries in the opening couple of months of the season

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The wind might slowly be changing forStoke City,touch wood, as the injury list starts to get shorter rather than longer for the first time this season.

Sam Clucas (hamstring), Jordan Thompson (cheekbone) and Josh Laurent, who had taken a knock in a home match against Watford, all made their return to the match day squad for a 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Saturday. Laurent started and impressed in central midfield alongsideLewis Bakerwhile Clucas and Thompson came off the bench in the latter stages.

The physios cant quite put their feet up just yet - and when players return, theyll need to build up match fitness too - but it will be a clear help forAlex Neilwhen he doesnt have to put square pegs in round holes. There were 11 players in their preferred position at the bet365 Stadium at the weekend, which was nice.

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Neil said at full-time: Weve got a lot of key players missing at the moment which limits us in certain situations. Not only that, even the lads who are coming back, like Sam Clucas, if we get an injury in the first 10 minutes, Clucas couldnt have played 80 because hes only done a few days training. Some of the other lads coming back as well. Jordan Thompson had to come on wearing a mask.

Were only at the start of getting bodies back now, which will certainly help us. But if we can perform and more importantly have the same attitude we had in this game, well be fine.

Thompson had to be fitted with a face mask as he made his return following concussion protocol.

Rory Delap told Radio Stoke before kick-off: If you look at the bench you can see weve got a couple back. Jordan Thompson is back and hell look a bit different if he gets on today with his mask but thats important. Some of the others are getting there. Its been a real tough period but its great to see these boys come back.

I know Jordans got a little crack in his cheek. He had a mask 3D printed. He took a real bad hit with the ball in training yesterday but hes fine. Hes a tough lad and he gets on with it.

Neil has kept his cards close to his chest about how soon his squad might be boosted by other key players, who were in the stands to watch on Saturday.

Harry Souttaris in the long recovery process from anterior cruciate ligament damage sustained last November. Stoke are being cautious to give the 23-year-old centre-back the best chance of coming back with as little risk as possible and it will be interesting to see if he gets a chance to get back on the pitch with the under-21s, which is normally the first port of call for players coming back after so long out.

Australia still hope to take him to the World Cup next month. A provisional squad is expected to be named in late October before a 26-man party is finalised by November 13.

When youve been out for as long as he has and, not only that, when youre 6ft 6in and youre nimble on your feet and youre mobile, you have to take extra special care with injuries, saidNeil in mid-September.

Weve waited this long to get him to this point and this last little bit is so important to give Harry and ourselves the best chance of him coming fit, remaining fit and having an impact in the team. Hes made great progress and well go as quickly as we think we can with Harry to get him back playing but not to his detriment.

Nick Powell, aged 28, is understood to have had quad problems following medial ligament damage he picked up in the first friendly of pre-season. He has only made three substitute appearances so far and hasnt been able to put himself forward to feature in the three games since the international break.

Jacob Brown, aged 24,has been due back in the second half of Octoberwith a thigh injury that has ruled him out of the last four matches. He had been filling in at wing-back due to Stokes injury problems.

Josh Tymon, aged 23, is believed to have suffered a new ankle injury in his comeback game against Hull last month which turned out to beworse than first thought.

Gavin Kilkenny has had rotten luck as a knee injury has followed a hip injury. The 22-year-old midfielder, on loan from Bournemouth, hopes to be back before the break for the World Cup next month.

He said last week:I did this injury a two or three weeks ago now. I actually tore a muscle in my hip a couple of weeks before that and I was buzzing to be back training with the lads just before the Luton game got cancelled. We trained on the Saturday and did my knee on the Saturday, an innocuous injury.

There was a pass, I blocked it and the knee opened up and tore the MCL, the inside of the knee. Ill be out for about another four weeks, hopefully sooner but were not putting too much pressure on it at the moment.

Im working really hard to get back, the physios are doing really well, and Im hoping Ill get back before the break for the World Cup. Then hopefully I can start my season from there.

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