Shay Given backs Mark Robins to guide Stoke City back to the Premier League

Former Republic of Ireland, Manchester City and Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given is impressed by Mark Robins’ efforts at Stoke City this season.

The Potters are flying this season, a far cry from last year, with four wins in their last five games.

Their latest 3-0 triumph over Oxford United has propelled them into second place and the automatic promotion spots.

After steering the club away from relegation in 2024–25, Robins now aims to return Stoke to the Premier League, following their drop to the Championship in 2018 after a decade in the top flight.

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Huge pedigree

Speaking exclusively to 10bet, Given highlighted Robins’ knowledge of the Championship and the work he has done since arriving at Stoke.

“I like him,” he said. “He’s got a huge pedigree in the Championship.

“I know Jon Walters relatively well at Stoke as well, the director of football there. He’s had a couple of different appointments before Robins has come in.

“Now it feels that Stoke, with the ownership model and the sort of finances they have behind them, you would think they should be back in the Premier League.

“I was there for a few years, and we were stable in the Premier League, so it just shows you when you drop out of the Premier League, how difficult it is to get back up.

“The Championship is unforgiving. But again, Mark Robins, I think he feels that he knows his way around the league really well.

“And Johnny Walters feels like he’s got this appointment bang on. I’d like to see Stoke back up in the Premier League.”

Special

Given, who worked with Frank Lampard at Derby County as his goalkeeper coach, also had high praise for the Coventry City manager and the job he is doing in the Championship.

“It’s a very special job,” the 49-year-old explained. “I mean, they had a poor result on Friday night (against Wrexham), which will be frustrating for Frank, because I think they were unbeaten all season.

“Absolutely flying. Scoring the most of any side in Europe, or something like that.

“For whatever reason, it didn’t click on Friday, and Wrexham were good for their win. They deserved it.

“Wrexham looked dangerous up front with Josh Windass, but it’s just one game. Lampard has still done brilliantly, and I see he’s been linked with a few jobs because he is just doing so well with Coventry.

“I know Frank knows the Championship really well, from his time at Derby. He knows a week or two is all it takes to change things dramatically, for good or bad, in the Championship.

“If you’re struggling to get into the playoffs or struggling to get away from relegation, you can turn it around within two weeks.

“You play six games or something mad in the Championship and things turn quickly. I’m not being negative, but Frank will know that in this league, it all changes quickly and they need to stay focused.

“He knows the league well and the players are all playing for him, so he would love to obviously win promotion and get Coventry back in the Premier League.”

Impressed

Turning to Middlesbrough, Given praised the impact Rob Edwards has had since taking over at the Riverside Stadium, but thinks that owner Steve Gibson will be desperate not to lose his manager to Wolverhampton Wanderers after they sacked Vitor Pereira.

“I had a brief spell at Middlesbrough on loan and Steve Gibson, the owner there, it’s phenomenal what he has done for the football club and for the area,” he added.

“He’s backed different managers and heavily backed different people and again. He knows the Championship as well. 

“How long have they been away from the Premier League? I don’t even know, but it’s a long time.

“Now, they have had a great start and Rob has done a great job. He knows the league extremely well as well.

“He was linked actually with the Wolves job today, and I think that the last thing that Steve Gibson will want to do is lose him at this crucial stage, because they’ve had a great start to the Championship.”

Read Shay Given’s full interview at 10bet 

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