One of the lowlights of my season, as a Stoke supporter, was the £750,000 exit of Ben Marshall to Leicester. Many people will be wondering who he is. Even some Stoke fans will struggle, as he never actually played for the Potters. But the 22 year-old winger was probably the best young player we have produced for a long time. His screamer against Chelsea in the FA Cup pays testament to that.

The Stoke side does, in general, lack young players with Pulis preferring experienced players to play his brand of football. Only Ryan Shawcross, Marc Wilson, Ryan Shotton and Asmir Begovic count as young players, and they are all hovering around the age of 22-25, hardly what you would you all ‘youngsters’. Marshall’s lack of first team chances frustrated him so much he decided to take his talent elsewhere, and that is hopefully not a trend that will continue.

The other young bright talent we have on the book is midfielder Florent Cuvelier. The Belgian has been on loan at Walsall for much of the few months, playing 17 games and scoring four goals including the crucial goal against Huddersfield that ensured Walsall’s league one survival.

The Potters aren’t a club renowned for their youth system, only Andy Wilkinson and Ryan Shotton of the current players came through the youth team, so when a stand out player like Cuvelier comes along it is imperative that we sign them to long term contracts and integrate them within the first team squad.

With is contract up in the summer, he said “My feeling is that I receive an offer from Stoke”. I hope so to. A small technically gifted player, it isn’t surprising that Stoke fans could let themselves get excited as he offers different things to the current centre midfield players. He has an eye for goal and a good passing game who is sure to excite fans

He may too raw for first team Premier League football, and Pulis, who is traditionally a careful manager, may not feel he is ready yet. But the mistakes we made with Marshall can’t be repeated with Cuvelier if the club want to produce young talent, they need to feel loved and valued by the club. Dean Saunders has said Cuvelier could be playing championship football next season, and Premier League soon after.

Our history of keeping young players isn’t good. The likes of Martin Patterson and Kris Commans have left in recent years and gone on to decent careers, while Adam Rooney is hoping to do the same at Birmingham. The ‘experiment’ of Diego Arismendi, the young £2.5 million signing from Uruguay, has yet to pay off with just a handful of appearances in three years, of which he has spent most of is them on loan at clubs such as Barnsley and Huddersfield.

Fans have a special spot for a young player who has risen through the club. Just ask Stoke fans about Andy Wilkinson. £5 million can buy a good player but not the love of the fans. It is time for Stoke to start investing in and producing quality young players, as we are in the age of crazy transfer fees and stupendous wages, it can only be a good thing.

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