Preview: Stoke City vs. Norwich City

Stoke City will be looking to consolidate their place in the top half of the Premier League on Sunday when Norwich City visit the Britannia Stadium.

Mark Hughes's side have taken seven points from their first five league matches and were beaten 3-1 at Arsenal last weekend.

The Potters go into this weekend's match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup.

Norwich have slipped to 17th in the Premier League after losing their last two matches, including last Saturday's defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Chris Hughton's men also enjoyed a League Cup victory in midweek when they overcame Championship Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road.

After making several changes for the Tranmere match, Hughes could revert to the same Stoke side that lost at Arsenal last week, with Asmir Begovic, Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones returning to the starting XI.

Hughton could hand a first Premier League start to summer signing Gary Hooper after the striker scored twice against Watford. Meanwhile, captain Sebastian Bassong remains doubtful for the match with a hamstring injury.

Recent form

Stoke City: LWWDL

Norwich City: DLWLL

Possible starting lineups

Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Wilson, Nzonzi, Adam, Arnautovic; Jones

Norwich City: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, R Bennett, Garrido; Redmond, Fer, Johnson, Snodgrass, Hoolahan; Hooper

Sports Mole says: 1-1