Stoke City: Junior Tchamadeu on his injury return

Stoke City defender Junior Tchamadeu is looking for more match minutes against Ipswich Town on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) after making his first appearance for the Potters in 2026 in the 2-0 loss to Swansea City.

The Cameroon international has been unable to play a full 90 minutes since suffering a significant knee injury at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, but came on to replace Eric Bocat in the 70th minute at the Swansea.com Stadium.

"It's always tough when you're missing games through injury. I was itching to be back on the pitch with the boys," Tchamadeu told BBC Radio Stoke.

"The biggest thing for me was to not rush myself back, especially because with the injury I had you have to get it right and you don't want any relapses and you don't want to come back too early and [injure] it again.

"Thankfully I'm back available."

Before the injury, Tchamadeu appeared in every game in the Championship for Stoke City, playing the full 90 minutes in all bar a 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough in September.

Stoke were seventh in the Championship and a point from the play-off places the last time the 22-year-old started, but have since slipped down to 15th.

"It's frustrating but I wouldn't say I'm surprised because we've had a lot of injuries to a lot of players who were playing at the beginning [of the season]," Tchamadeu added.

"But to go from where we were last season to where we are now in terms of performances. I feel like we've made a massive improvement."

The Potters host Ipswich Town having only won one of their past 10 league games. Victory and three points could boost them up to 10th position.

"The last 10 games, we've got to stick together and try and get every result," Tchamadeu said.

Listen to the full interview with Junior Tchamadeu and more Stoke City on BBC Sounds.

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