After returning to the Championship, Stoke City haven't endured the greatest of times to say the least.

Gary Rowett's men, tipped the bookies' favourites to lift the Championship title in May, have won just one of their opening six league games, being defeated three times and drawing twice.

Perhaps the international break has come just at the right time for Rowett and his Stoke side, who on paper have a squad that should be doing much better than lingering in 18th place at present.

There is, of course, still a very long way to go, and despite not winning as many games as they may have wanted to thus far, the performances have been there on more than one occasion.

With that being said, here we take a look at one winner and one loser from Stoke City's season so far...

Etebo was the first player to arrive at the Bet365 Stadium in the summer for a fee of over £6million from Feirense, and since then the Nigerian international has put in a string of energetic, impressive performances in the middle of the park.

In a Potters defence that has been leaking goals, the Welsh international has come under the most criticism, capped off with a red card in what was a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic a few weeks ago.

Potters fans will be hoping that the 34-year old can replicate his form that earned him a £12million move to Everton just two years ago sooner rather than later.