Lewis Baker gives 'captain-like answer' to big Stoke City question

Lewis Baker gave a typically captain-like diplomatic answer when he was asked the big question about the Stoke City captaincy.

The 27-year-old deputised as skipper for Joe Allen in the second half of last season and has already been all-but anointed as his successor by some supporters. There is no doubt he is a serious contender.

He came to Stoke to embrace the responsibilities of life as a senior player and that's what he plans on doing, regardless of if he leads the team down the tunnel.

"That's the gaffer's decision and what the gaffer wants," he said. "I just do everything I can and be myself every day. Armband or not I'll always be the same."

That's a theme running through a chat with Baker at Stoke's Cork training base for the week. He is a firm believer that the work he puts in every day will best determine the long-term outcome.

Can he, for example, keep up the brilliant scoring rate he has shown since joining from Chelsea in January?

"It's depending on what the manager wants from me in specific games but it's something I'm capable of doing," he said. "Just for me to try to bring the level every day to try to improve myself is the best thing I can do. I'm ready for what comes ahead.

"It's something I can do, one of my attributes and it's up to me to make the most of my attributes."

There is no doubt he does love scoring though, as evidenced with photographs following most of his eight goals in just 21 games. There is normally a leap and a roar.

"It's one of those ones," he said. "Every time the ball goes in the net whether it's me or one of my teammates, I enjoy those moments because I want to win games. It's a passion, just a passion."

His jump of passion is normally right towards the Stoke fans, whether