Nigerian midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is set for his tenth Sky Bet Championship appearance for Stoke City against compatriot, William Troost-Ekongs Watford at the Vicarage Road tonight.
Mikel had a fine performance to help Stoke secure a slim 1-0 home win against Rotherham United in a SkyBet Championship game at the bet365 Stadium during the weekend.
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The veteran was in action for the entire duration of the game. The 33-year-old has played every minute of Stoke’s nine SkyBet Championship games in the ongoing 2020/21 season.
Furthermore, Mikel has started a total of 27 Championship matches for two clubs – 19 for Middlesbrough in the 2018/19 season which saw him being substituted two times.
Another interesting aspect of the former Super Eagles skipper’s record is that he has not been booked as a Stoke City player, while at Middlesbrough, he picked up four yellow cards.
Troost-Ekong will be hoping to bounce back in style after suffering his first loss with Watford when they fell 1-0 to Barnsley in Saturday’s Championship tie at the Oakwell Stadium. He got a yellow card in the third minute before being replaced by Andre Gray in the 76th minute.
The other Nigerians – duo of Isaac Success and Tom Dele-Bashiru are still out, injured.
Watford host Stoke with just goal difference separating both clubs. While the Hornets are now winless in three games, the Potters have won three of their last five fixtures.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
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