Matthew Etherington
#26
Left winger
d.o.b: 14/8/81
Signed: January 2009
Games this season: 22
Goals this season: 2
Total club games: 107/7
Total club goals: 15
Joined as the clubs first signing of 2009 and helped to provide the ammunition that saw the Potters score the goals to keep them up.
£3m fee turned out to be a bargain and his quick turn of pace is what had been missing from the Potters line up prior to his arrival.
A groin injury hampered his performances after being sent off at Sunderland but 2009/10 saw him prove himself as one of the best left wingers in the league, finishing near the top of the Premier League assists chart, whilst also netting seven goals himself, and being on the verge of an England call up before picking up a knee injury in the FA Cup game against Manchester City, that kept him out for six weeks and wrecked his World Cup hopes.
Started 2010/11 by setting up each and every one of the Potters first seven goals of the season, in the opening five fixtures, as he continued to show all that early career promise that seemed to be going unfulfilled and continued to cause problems on top of problems with his great dribbling, lightning pace and pin point crossing. Was helped by the arrival of Jermaine Pennant which meant the opposition had another winger to try and contain.
Suffered a torn hamstring against Wolves and returned for the FA Cup final but was nowhere near fit and was unable to get into the game.
One last reaistic chance this season for Etherington to push himself into the Three Lions squad whilst he will be looking forward to pushing Stoke into the top 10 and play in Europe for the Potters.
2009/10 Boothen Roar Player of the Season