Andre Vidigal’s fortunes at Stoke City have taken a sudden turn, thanks to the change in head coach. Prior to this shift, Vidigal had only been an unused substitute for a single match this season. His situation was less about being in trouble with the previous boss, Steven Schumacher, and more about Schumacher’s frustration with the 26-year-old forward’s fitness upon his return for pre-season. There were also concerns about Vidigal’s tendency to need in-game treatment, which was seen as excessive. Despite this, Vidigal maintained a positive demeanor around the team and opted not to pursue potential moves away from Stoke during the summer transfer window, even though he was aware he wasn’t in Schumacher’s plans. Perhaps he anticipated Schumacher’s tenure wouldn’t last, which proved to be the case.
After several months out of favor, including a difficult spell under Alex Neil, Vidigal has now been given a fresh chance under new head coach Narcis Pelach. He was only included as a substitute once, during the opening day win over Coventry, before being named on the bench at Middlesbrough. During that match, he was brought on for the final 11 minutes. While his performance showed signs of rust—missing a close-range opportunity with his left foot and firing a long-range shot off-target—there were positives to take. His ability to get into positions to create chances was encouraging. Sam Gallagher, recently recovered from a calf injury, also made his debut in the same match.
Pelach expressed his optimism about both players, saying, “This is good for the team, more and more options, two players who I expect to give a lot. Hopefully, they will get fitter and understand the ideas soon, and we can use them. I’m very happy to have them, of course.” Vidigal, at his peak during his opening month under Neil, demonstrated an ability to slip into goal-scoring positions, netting twice on his debut and adding three more goals in his next five games. His progress was interrupted by a tough challenge at Millwall, just as he was emerging as a consistent attacking threat.
Now, Vidigal returns to a forward line that has struggled to live up to its potential in recent weeks. Players like Bae Junho, Million Manhoef, Tom Cannon, and Lewis Koumas have shown promise or have been touted for their potential at this level. Gallagher adds another dimension to the attack, while Emre Tezgel has proven himself as a regular goal-scorer in the youth ranks. However, Stoke has managed just four goals in seven league games this season, failing to score more than one goal in any single match. As the team gears up for a crucial home fixture against Portsmouth, Pelach will be hoping that one or more of these players step up to make a significant impact.