Stoke City

Paul Lambert backs misfiring Stoke City strikers to find form

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 01 February 2018

Lambert backs Stoke strikers to find form

Paul Lambert challenges misfiring Stoke City strike trio Mame Biram Diouf, Peter Crouch and Saido Berahino to return to form and give him a selection headache.

Paul Lambert has spoken highly of his Stoke City strikers and urged them to give him a selection headache by returning to their goalscoring best.

The Scotsman has overseen two games since taking charge of the Potters on January 15, a 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town and a goalless draw with Watford.

Stoke are still in the relegation mix, however, sitting just one point off the bottom three of the Premier League table.

One cause for concern is the form of first-team strikers Mame Biram Diouf, Peter Crouch and Saido Berahino, who have scored just eight league goals between them this season.

When asked by Sky Sports News about his out-of-form forwards, Lambert said: "Mame gives us something totally different from what we've got.

"I thought Crouch came on last night and changed the game in our favour. The way the game was going, I thought Peter came on and did really well.

"Mame was brilliant against Huddersfield and got his goal and Berahino, to be fair to him and I've only really seen the lad in training, what a fantastic finisher he is. He knows where the goal is but I think he's got to get a little bit fitter. But regarding being a goalscorer he's been brilliant.

"I need the three of them to fire, and if they do it gives me a problem."

Stoke return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Bournemouth.