Stoke City legend Danny Pugh delivers verdict on Simkin, Tezgel, and Lowe

Stoke City coach Danny Pugh says young hopefuls Tommy Simkin, Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe have all got the attitude to be a success.

Pugh is back at Stoke on the academy coaching staff - a return for the 43 year old who helped City to promotion from the Championship as a player, featured for them in the Premier League and then had a spell on the academy coaching staff from 2021-23.

He’s back coaching the under-18s, the same level he was working at in his previous role. And back then he was working with keeper Simkin and forwards Lowe and Tezgel.

The strikers, both 20, and Simkin, 21, have gained experience on loan in the last couple of seasons.

Lowe and Simkin have both gone on loan for next season, at Hibs and Doncaster respectively while there is likely to be interest in Tezgel after he scored 15 on loan at Crewe last season despite missing three months of the campaign with an ankle injury.

Pugh played in the same side as a 16-year-old Simkin when the keeper went on loan for six weeks to Hanley Town, then managed by Carl Dickinson.

Pugh recalls: “He was brilliant. That world of football would have been alien to what he was used to. He was coming for crosses and he was getting abuse from about ten people behind the goal!

“It was a great learning curve for him. I think the handful of games he played there were an eye opener to him but he came through that test with flying colours and he has really kicked on from there.”

Pugh says all three youngsters showed signs then that they could go on and be successful.

He said: “One hundred per cent. I think Emre had been pinpointed for several years before that. Lowey probably a bit later but you could see the talent and potential.

“But all three of those lads have great attitudes and work rate. They are really good lads as well and deserve the success they are getting.”

Pugh played 87 games for Stoke after Tony Pulis brought him in from Preston, initially on loan in 2007.

He was a regular in the side that was promoted to the top flight in 2008 and would love them to get there again.

He said: “You can see with the place here and what they are doing at the football club - it’s built to be in the Premier League now.

“It is exciting times at the club and you can see exactly where they are striving to get.”

Manager Mark Robins is hoping to get Stoke competing at the right end of the table after last season’s 17th-placed finish.

City have been busy in the transfer market so far this summer, signing goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, centre back Luke Graham and midfielders Svante Ingelsson, Djibril Soumare and Ethan Galbraith.

They play their first public pre-season game on Saturday when they go to Crewe (3pm). Robins then takes his squad to a training camp in Austria.

Stoke are then back in action in front of supporters on Tuesday July 28 when they host Everton and on Saturday August 1, against Valencia.

After that, the season kicks off with the Carabao Cup tie at home to Oldham on Saturday August 8 and the Championship opener at home to Swansea on August 15.

The transfer window is open, the rumours are flying, and everyone is talking about who Stoke City will sign and who they might sell.

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