Overview
- Stoke sit eighth and host fifth-placed Preston at the bet365 Stadium, with three points separating the sides and identical goal difference.
- Mark Robins lists Lewis Baker (ankle) and Eric Bocat (knee) as doubts, with Junior Tchamadeu unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon.
- Preston will be without Milutin Osmajic (suspended), Lewis Gibson (thigh), Robbie Brady (calf) and Jamal Lewis (hamstring), while Ali McCann is expected to return; Paul Heckingbottom serves the final game of a touchline ban.
- Robins says January signings are desired but uncertain because of profit-and-sustainability constraints affecting what business Stoke can do.
- Kick-off is 3pm on Friday, December 26, with live coverage on Sky Sports+.