Smallbone adds to Stoke's Irish legion

The midfielder arrives from Southampton for the season ahead of Saturday’s Championship opener at Millwall.

Republic of Ireland's Will Smallbone

Stoke City has developed into a magnet for budding Irish midfielders after Will Smallbone became the latest loan capture of Michael O’Neill.

The Ireland U21 playmaker – whose goals in the June internationals against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro propelled Jim Crawford’s side into the upcoming Euro play-off against Israel – arrives from Southampton for the season ahead of Saturday’s Championship opener at Millwall.