Newly signed midfield maestro, Mikel Obi was on target on his debut for Stoke City as they continued their pre-season preparations with a 5-1 victory against Shrewsbury Town this afternoon at the Club’s Clayton Wood training ground.
Mikel joined the Potters after mutually terminating his contract with Turkish giants, Trabzonspor after altercation with the club over their decision concerning football activities following the outbreak of the ravaging Coronavirus pandemic.
Goals from Tashan Oakley-Boothe and John Obi Mikel, making his first start in red and white, either side of a Shaun Walley penalty set the Potters on their way, before second half strikes from Tom Ince, Benik Afobe and Tyrese Campbell rounded off the goal-scoring.
Jack Butland also made a flying save in the first half to deny Jason Cummings from the spot to prevent the visitors from levelling the scoreline earlier. The result sets up City for the visit of Blackpool in the Carabao Cup on Saturday.
The second half started slower than the first, but it was the home side who netted the next goal of the game when substitute Ince flicked Bruno Martins Indi’s long-pass into the Shrewsbury net.
Things got even better late in the half when first Afobe turned in Oakley-Boothe’s low cross, before a carbon copy of the move saw Campbell finish off fellow sub Lasse Sorensen’s delivery.
Stoke City: Butland; Collins, Shawcross (Souttar, 45′), Martins Indi (Lindsay, 69′), Edwards, Cousins (Sorensen, 69′), Mikel (Ince, 45′), Oakley-Boothe, Tymon, Gregory (Afobe, 69′), Fletcher (Campbell, 45′).
