This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Stoke City manager Nathan Jones will be hoping his side can make it back-to-back wins, when the Potters host Fulham at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon, following their first win of the season last-time out against Swansea City.

Ahead of the match though Jones could be considering whether to continue with James McClean at left-back, rather then benefit from his attacking talents in the final third.

So should Jones stop playing McClean at left-back?

We discuss.........

Kris Smith

“While McClean definitely has something to offer defensively with his hard work and strong tackling, it seems like a waste of ability in the final third, where Stoke need to improve.

“Playing McClean on the wing gives Stoke natural width in an otherwise narrow squad. Despite Clucas starting out as a winger, he has been converted to sit more central, sacrificing even more width.

“In fairness to Jones, McClean hasn’t performed awfully at left-back and presents a better option than playing a centre-back (Martins-Indi) there, but he needs to play in a position which offers Stoke an outlet out wide to deliver crosses to dangerous strikers.

“McClean deserves to be starting in either capacity in this Stoke side, having scored the second-most goals for them this season, however, this attacking threat ought to be utilised in left-wing rather than left-back.”

George Brooks

"I have a little bit of sympathy for McClean because it's not his natural position. For me, the fact that Nathan Jones has been forced to rely on McClean, only highlights the fact that Stoke should have signed a left-back in the summer.

"McClean is a good player and he should be experienced enough to learn to adapt to the role, but that's something that he's struggled to do so far. He lets the opposition get too many crosses in from his side.

"He's been criticised for his performances in recent weeks and he'll be determined to improve and convince his manager that he's good enough to adapt to the role."

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Chris Thorpe

"Yes, I think it would be best if he refrained from doing this, if McClean is ever going to operate from a defensive position, it has to be as an out and out attacking wing back.

"Playing him as a full back puts too much defensive responsibility on the shoulders of a player who just isn't built to defend as part of a unit, he is much better when playing further up the pitch.

"If I were Jones, I would find a secondary solution to the problem or just drop the player altogether, with the ex-Luton boss still under pressure, he should avoid complicating matters further.

"McClean should only realistically be used as a full back if injuries require him to be a stand in for that position, aside from that, Jones should just bin the idea altogether!"