Friday night's clash with Nottingham Forest is a definite must-win game for Stoke City and their manager Nathan Jones - a game that could well decide his fate at the bet365 Stadium.

The Potters have endured a dismal start to the season and have failed to pick up a single league win, hence why they currently occupy 23rd spot in the Sky Bet Championship table.

The Staffordshire outfit, who have lost seven of their opening eight league games, have picked up just two points from a possible 24 in the opening stages of the season, with time running out for Jones.

After an embarrassing defeat to League Two side Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, plenty of fans on social media called for Jones' head, but he looks like he will be given until the Forest game to turn things around.

Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports claims that despite the board's patience starting to wear thin, Jones will be given the Forest game to try and transform their fortunes.

The Welshman needs to get everything his spot on, especially his tactical decisions and team selection, and a player who should be the first name on the teamsheet is Sam Vokes.

Vokes added another goal to his tally in midweek against Crawley - the experienced forward is now on three goals for the season, with all of those strikes coming in the Carabao Cup.

But having failed to make a starting appearance for the Potters since the 2-1 opening day defeat to QPR, it's now time for Stoke to start Vokes from the off, and he should do against Forest.

Vokes is a player who has scored bags of goals in the Championship before, which is largely down to his physical prowess and impressive aerial threat.

He doesn't just score goals, but he also has the ability to form an impressive strike partnership up front, and alongside Lee Gregory, the pair could form a big-man-little-man partnership.

Gregory thrived in that system for Millwall alongside Steve Morison, however in recent weeks, his work-rate hasn't been rewarded with a goal and he has been left isolated up top.

Vokes will be full of confidence after scoring against Crawley, and a player of his size and qualities could really give Michael Dawson and Joe Worrall a battle.

The defensive pairing have coped well when it has to come to defending against pacey forwards in the likes of Mallik Wilks for Barnsley at the weekend, but a lively strike duo in Vokes and Gregory could cause danger.

Having scored only four goals at home this season, clearly things need to change up top, and Vokes should be given his chance to start on Friday night for sure.