There may still be 14 games left this season, but Stoke City boss Nathan Jones already has one eye on the end of it and the summer that lies ahead.

Jones has been in charge for five matches, and in that time, he has won on just one occasion – a convincing win at the Bet365 Stadium against league leaders Leeds United.

But since then the club’s form has dipped having not earned three points since.

The poor from sees the Potters 17th in the Championship, a far cry from where they were expected to be after 32 games into the campaign after relegation from the Premier League last May.

Stoke are 11 points off the bottom three and 12 off the play-offs, so they are currently the definition of mid-table mediocrity.

But Jones is already casting his eye to the summer and to a Potters exodus upon the conclusion of the regular season.

In quotes taken by the Stoke Sentinel, the 45-year-old said the “next few months will be vital” as he continues to evaluate his squad ahead of a potential overhaul in the close-season.

This summer will be massively important for the club and the manager, and he expressed his thoughts in no uncertain terms.

“I want people that want to metaphorically kill for this club – to be part of something a lot better going forward,” he said.

“I have a clear, clear, clear view of what needs to happen.

“In these months now, we want to see how far we can go.

"We don’t want this to peter out in any way shape or form, but I have a clear view of what I want to do. This is why these months are vital, they really are vital.

“I did it at my previous club, I came in January 6 – two days difference – and was able to evaluate the squad then when we did make good summer signings and changed the environment in the next three or four months.

"We really did hit the ground running in the next season and got to the play-offs, lost in the play-offs.

Jones added: “The wheels had already been set in motion and that’s why these next three months are so important.

“If you come in during the summer and have to evaluate the squad, that season can almost be half over before you know where you stand.

"That’s why it’s such a vital, vital time and look we are going to get it right. It takes a bit of time sometimes.”

The verdict

A clear and decisive message from Jones who is right in what he is saying.

Three months to impress him, or they are out of the club.

Gary Rowett inherited most of the squad and added to it, and now Jones has two lots of teams effectively to get to know.

The players take responsibility as under a few managers now they have failed to perform.

Jones’ stance is cut-throat and much needed to whip the Potters back into shape.