'Lawal looked like Beckham'
The Irishman joined the Potters in August 2024 but was sidelined for much of the season with a back injury, playing just seven Championship games.
But the versatile Lawal, who can play in defence or midfield, is keen to make a bigger impact this campaign and his performances in pre-season are certainly catching the eye of his boss.
"There's bits and pieces where [Lawal] looks fantastic at times," Robins told BBC Radio Stoke following the 1-1 friendly draw with Premier League side Wolves on Saturday.
"His feet are brilliant. He looked like [David] Beckham, coming out with the ball as well.
"He can play anywhere with the feet that he's got. They are quite soft and he's got a really good touch. He can finish, as you saw on Wednesday evening [when he scored in the 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra].
"He's worked his socks off this pre-season and gives himself every chance. His build and his qualities make him a welcome addition to the squad."
Listen to the full post-match interview with Mark Robins and more on BBC Sounds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
📝 Tigres on fire in the Leagues Cup
The Tigers won again with the help of Ángel Correa. The feline team's star signing continues to shine and scored his second brace in the tournament, temporarily placing him at the top of the individual scoring table. The Tigers are the only team that has managed to win their two matches and have one foot in the next stage of the tournament. The Tigers are all smiles with a Correa that excites their entire fan base! This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here. 📸 Rodrigo Oropeza - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Federico Chiesa could make Premier League transfer as two new options emerge
Federico Chiesa could end up staying in the Premier League beyond the closure of the transfer window — but not with Liverpool. That's because Fulham is being linked with a move to sign the Italy international, who looks set to leave Anfield after just one season with the club. Chiesa started just twice across the Premier League and Champions League across the course of the 2024-25 season, and both of the games he lined up in were effective dead rubbers. Italian oulet La Repubblica reports that Fulham is interested in possibly taking Chiesa on loan, while Celtic is also considering a loan swoop for the 27-year-old. READ MORE: Luis Diaz dealt early Bayern Munich setback after Tottenham transfer agreement READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Alexander Isak bid, Adidas kit launch, Rodrygo talks Chiesa was the most notable exclusion from Liverpool's traveling squad for the pre-season tour of China, with the club suggesting that his absence was due to a slight fitness issue. Just hours prior to Liverpool's flight to Hong Kong last month, the Italy international scored in the Reds' 5-0 behind-closed-doors victory over Stoke City at the AXA Training Center. Given his difficult first season in England, Chiesa's omission has prompted more questions than answers. Speaking in an interview with Italian media in June, Chiesa revealed that a decision would soon be taken over his future. 'The year is over. But it's an experience I would do again,' Chiesa said. 'Soon I will sit down at the table with the club, Fali (Ramadani, his agent) and my family to find the best solution. I wouldn't mind staying in Liverpool at all. 'In the first few months there was no shortage of difficulties, if you think that I arrived in Liverpool on 26 August and found myself catapulted to another planet. "With other teammates, without having trained with them, but with a coach, zero friendlies, nothing… And, if you remember, in the autumn Liverpool were three times as good as the others, a crazy intensity.' Atalanta has been linked with Chiesa, amid the prospect of Ademola Lookman joining Inter Milan, while Napoli manager Antonio Conte is also a fan of the out-of-favor Reds forward. Chiesa's Liverpool salary is likely to be an obstacle for most suitors in Italy, and if the player is not willing to take a pay cut in order to secure a return to Italy, the Reds may have to subsidize his salary to get him out of Anfield.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Magic Johnson Reacts To Photo Of Slimmed-Down Luka Doncic
Magic Johnson Reacts To Photo Of Slimmed-Down Luka Doncic originally appeared on The Spun. Among the many reasons that the Dallas Mavericks made the fateful decision to trade megastar Luka Doncic was his seeming inability to lose weight. So when Doncic did a magazine cover shoot looking much slimmer, everyone was stunned - including one Lakers legend. Taking to X earlier this week, Lakers icon Magic Johnson shared the photos of Doncic's incredible shoot with Men's Health and stated how impressed he is by the work Luka has done. He believes it's a sign that Doncic is more determined than ever to win an NBA title. "I love how Luka is showing his Laker teammates how serious he is about winning a championship in Los Angeles by transforming his body!" Magic wrote. NBA fans were far less impressed than Magic was though. Many took to the comments and pointed out that Luka shouldn't be praised for doing something he should have been doing to begin with: "Let's see if he shows them all season long…that's always been the issue with Luka," one user replied. "A pro athlete being in top shape is now praised. Man we fell a lot," another wrote. "The 5-game 1st round PO exit this year gave him an extra 6 weeks to work out. He has had an off season team for 3 years now and the last time he showed up close to this shape he averaged 34-10-9 and went the to Finals," a third wrote. On February 2, the Lakers pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NBA history, acquiring Doncic from the Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis and other compensation. Dallas were quickly raked over the coals for giving up on one of the world's brightest basketball stars in exchange for relatively nothing. Ironically, Dallas didn't even suffer serious consequences from it as they went on to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and secured a potential franchise superstar in Cooper Flagg. As for the Lakers, they won their division and finished third in the Western Conference but wound up losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA Johnson Reacts To Photo Of Slimmed-Down Luka Doncic first appeared on The Spun on Jul 31, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
