Leeds starlet pictured in Stoke kit, clear transfer targets for Michael O'Neill

Stoke City started the season with a deflating 2-0 defeat at Millwall, conceding both goals from set pieces. But there are 45 games to go and another month in the transfer window and a lot of work to do on and off the pitch. Here are the talking points after the first match of the campaign.

This could be a good season for Ben Wilmot but it can't be much of a secret that he looks more naturally fitted on the right of a back three rather than on the left. As with the start of last season, it limits how much Josh Tymon can be brought into play down that side too.

It wouldn't half help Stoke if they had a striker who could hold the ball up as well. If he can do that and score regularly then that's the kind of forward Stoke haven't had for quite a while. If he can do that and also some Peter Crouch tribute at the other end to help defending set pieces, then it goes from game changer to season changer.

This side would look a lot different with Harry Souttar back in fitness and form. There's Nick Powell too and a couple of potential key signings on the left side of defence and up front. All of a sudden, the whole picture looks very different.

But at the same time, there will be Stoke fans who might look and say, "Well, yes - but what happens if Harry Clarke gets injured, what is Powell's injury record, when will Souttar be back and are those transfers done yet?"

In a division of fine margins, Stoke seem to teetering on the edge of something.

There are no ifs or buts about whether Stoke need to improve their defending of set pieces. They knew Millwall would be a danger at corners, even if Charlie Cresswell might not have been the fella the scouts highlighted as the primary threat. They knew there would be blockers and dummy runs