Stoke City face off against Coventry this weekend and despite the Potters not having too much to play for when it comes to the final fixture of the campaign, they could be boosted by seeing Nick Powell back in action.

As reported by the club's official website, the player is training and there is a chance that he could at least be handed a cameo role for the club this weekend. That would be a boost for Stoke fans, with the 28-year-old being out of action since March. He did manage a half against Middlesbrough last weekend but could be set for perhaps even more involvement against the Sky Blues.

The midfielder has been one of the Potters most productive during his time there and this year, despite being sidelined with injuries, has managed six goals and one assist in 17 Championship outings this campaign.

His injuries are a worry but when he is match fit and in action, he can be one of Stoke's most influential players. Now, with the current campaign drawing to a close, the club could be handed a boost to see Powell back in more frequent action both last weekend and now this one.

Speaking to the club's official website about whether Powell could play a part, Holden said: "Powell has been back in and around it this week on the back of a decent cameo last weekend against Middlesbrough."

Powell managed 12 goals last season when he was a prominent first-team player but this year he has had to contend with more time in the stands due to injuries. If they can keep him fit and get him in good shape ahead of the summer, then they could certainly benefit from having him more involved again next season.

The Verdict

Nick Powell is certainly still well capable of producing the goods at Championship level. Even though he has featured in less than 20 league games for Stoke this year, he has still been able to offer plenty in attack when he is on the field and remains important to the club.

The issue is in keeping him fit and able to actually contribute. It is all well and good to see Powell produce decent numbers when he is match fit but he has spent the majority of this campaign sidelined with injury and therefore unable to really offer the Potters as much as he would like.

Stoke themselves, as a whole, haven't had as good a campaign as they would have liked. Early signs of a play-off push have fell away and they are now having to settle for merely a spot in the middle of the division. If Powell was fit, perhaps they could have been much higher.

If they can get a good result this weekend, with the former Man United man playing a big part, then it could be a sign of things to come from the club next season instead.