Stoke City’s Valentine Star: Who is the Potters’ most loved player?

Name: Bojan
Position: Forward

Bojan has found the back of the net ten times in 41 appearances for Stoke since arriving back in July 2014.

There is a trio of players that could have been awarded this feat. Ryan Shawcross has always been at the heart of Stoke City’s defence and Potters’ fans hearts, meanwhile Marko Arnautovic is currently enjoying his most fruitful spell at the Britannia Stadium this season. But the club’s ultimate Valentine’s Day date would have to be Bojan.

The 25-year-old, who has just one international cap for his country, has spearheaded Stoke’s new look attacking and flair style of play under manager Mark Hughes since his arrival back in July 2014.

Bojan, who left La Liga giants FC Barcelona for the Staffordshire outfit by signing a four-year deal with the Premier League club after joining for a reported €1.8m, has scored five goals in 19 league games for his side so far this season.

After breaking a record held by five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or champion Lionel Messi; where he made his Barca debut against Osasunsa aged just 17 years and 19 days old, Bojan was tipped to glisten the soaring heights of world football following his remarkable youth career at the Nou Camp.

But despite failing to live up to expectations; since featuring for AS Roma, AC Milan and Ajax in between, Stoke fans still highly value the esteemed bubble that surrounds the Spaniard’s career since coming through Barcelona’s youth ranks, although Bojan is determined to lose the ever-present relation to his renowned past and create a bright future with Stoke.

Potters fans have certainly seen glimpses of his ‘world-class’ potential; with a wonderful performance and goal against Manchester United back on Boxing Day, although unfortunately he doesn’t deliver that knock-out blow regularly enough. An attribute that seemingly cost his place in Barcelona’s first-team.