Stoke City starting XI vs Bristol Rovers as four new signings start

Michael O'Neill has named four new signings in the starting XI for Stoke City's penultimate friendly of pre-season.

Aden Flint starts in central defence alongside Ben Wilmot and Phil Jagielka, Josh Laurent and Gavin Kilkenny are in midfield alongside Sam Clucas. Liam McCarron starts at left wing-back.

This is a smaller travelling squad and there is no place for Jack Bonham or Connor Taylor, who did so well on loan at Bristol Rovers last season, nor Will Forrester, Emre Tezgel, Demeaco Duhaney or Jordan Thompson, who injured an arm late in a game against Fleetwood.

Joe Bursik stays in goal and Tom Sparrow stays in at right wing-back after impressing in a draw with Fleetwood behind closed doors on Saturday. Harry Clarke has been rested with a minor knee injury.

D'Margio Wright-Phillips, fresh from signing a new contract, starts up front again next to Tyrese Campbell.

Bursik, Flint, Jagielka, Fox, Sparrow, Kilkenny, Clucas, Laurent, McCarron, Campbell, Wright-Phillips. Fielding, Wilmot, Jones, Tymon, Griffiths, Baker, Brown.