“He gets stronger with more games” – Stoke City’s boss Michael O’Neill on John Obi Mikel! Details👇

John Obi Mikel of Stoke City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Stoke City at The Den, London, England, on September 12, 2020. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Stoke City’s manager, Michael O’Neill believes that former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel is getting stronger as he gets involved in more games for the club. He said while speaking to newsmen ahead of the Potters’ visit to Vicarage Road.

While responding to how sports science has influenced his matchday selections, he said plays respond differently to it and for Mikel, he gets sharper with more games under his belt.

He said;

What sports science and medical information give you is a knowledge of how robust players are and some are more robust than others in terms of their ability to play and consistency.

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“If you look at John Obi Mikel, he has got stronger with the more games he’s played as opposed to the players who play in attacking positions who maybe need to be given spells when they’re rested for periods or we have to withdraw them at certain parts of a game looking forward to the next one.

“We have to manage the load of the players very carefully”.

John Obi Mikel joined Stoke after he terminated his contract with Turkish side, Trabzonspor in March following his refusal to play for the team amidst coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Stoke City currently sits in 10th position on the English Championship log with 15 points after 9 matches.

The Potters play Watford who are in 9th place, next, away at the Vicarage Road Stadium.