Stoke City star on 'fun' squad that leaves him feeling old at 22

Million Manhoef joined Stoke City from Vitesse Arnhem in January.
-Credit: (Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)


Man of the moment Million Manhoef is embracing life almost as an older statesmen in one of the youngest ever Stoke City squads.

Manhoef is still only 22 but that’s par for the course for a side which has been reshaped in the last couple months, with teenagers bursting through. The youngest starting XI in the club’s history last mid-week at Middlesbrough in a 5-0 Carabao Cup rout was followed up by the youngest starting XI for a league game in a 1-0 win at Plymouth on Saturday.

There were only four outfield players older than Manhoef at Home Park; Eric Bocat (25), Ben Wilmot (24), Wouter Burger (23) and Ryan Mmaee (26) and the right winger, who scored the winning goal, is enjoying the energy and enthusiasm of it all as well as the pace and skill.

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“It’s fun,” he said. “I’m getting old in this team! We are a young team but you can see the quality of the players, that’s why they start. It’s young but a lot of players are experienced and I think we have a good balance.”

Manhoef scored twice in the thrashing of Middlesbrough and it was a well-taken goal late at Plymouth. It takes him to seven goals in his last 12 appearances for the club spread over two seasons and it might have been more. There was a gilt-edged chance against West Brom when a Lewis Koumas shot rebounded to him off a post and he had a couple more on Saturday, including a first-half one-on-one and its follow-up.

He said: “I think I should have scored in the first half so ten you make it a little bit exciting, a bit frightening, but we got there in the end so that was great.

“It was relief when I finally did score after, I think, three chances. It was great, great in front of the fans, and I loved it.

“You have to continue of course (when chances aren’t taken). A little bit it’s in your head and I think that’s why I missed the second chance, because I was thinking about the first. You have to let it slide and believe in your quality and it will eventually come off.”

The away end erupted when Manhoef scored directly in front of more than 1,600 supporters and Manhoef was serenaded through the afternoon.

“That helps me tremendously,” he said in an interview for the club. “I had cramps but I heard them sing my song and it helped me get through tough moments.”

Stoke have now won four out of six games in all competitions to start the season, including two out of four in the Championship. They return to action after the international break with an away game at Oxford United.

Manhoef said: “We have a goal in front of us and we’re right on schedule. It was important we win at Plymouth and we did. I think the start has been quite ok.”

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