Stoke City Starlet Seeks Familiar Ground Ahead of Anticipated Return to Rovers
Ashley Phillips returns to Ewood Park this Wednesday, not as a Blackburn player but as a determined Stoke City defender. Starting his career at Blackburn, Phillips has come full circle, now seeking to showcase his growth and Stoke’s progress since his summer 2023 move to Spurs. His loan spell has had its challenges—adjusting to a new coach and bouncing back from a concussion—but he’s found comfort in being closer to home and in a squad that’s beginning to gel. Reflecting on Stoke’s recent 2-1 win over Derby, Phillips noted the “togetherness” and the steady improvements, signs that the team is on an upward path under coach Narcis Pelach. Confident and settled, Phillips is ready to make his mark once more on familiar turf.