You do wonder just what might have been had Stoke City not found themselves with what feels like half a squad of players injured.

The predicament they are in surely influenced their transfer strategy in the month of January.

Stoke are still within touching distance of the Championship play-offs and boss Mark Robins will desperately want his team to stay among the chasing pack.

An injury to goalkeeper Viktor Johansson needed a quick reaction so in came Gavin Bazunu on loan from Southampton.

That was a signing Stoke probably did not envisage having to make, but they could not go half a season with 21-year-old academy graduate Tommy Simkin in goal.

Simkin certainly would not have been overwhelmed by the opportunity but Stoke understandably needed experience.

Bazunu has a Championship promotion under his belt, unfortunately his fresh start away from St Mary’s lasted one game before being ruled out for up to eight weeks with a thigh injury.

So, as things stand, Stoke will chase the top six with Simkin in goal after all.

Perhaps one of the big surprises in this window is they did not bring in cover at right-back.

Junior Tchamadeu went off to the African Cup of Nations in December and returned injured. It has been a position the Potters have not had a natural replacement for.

They did however strengthen their threadbare attacking options. Having lost Robert Bozenik, Divin Mubama and Sam Gallagher to the dreaded injury curse, Stoke signed Milan Smit from Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles.

Mark Robins will be hoping the Dutchman can hit the ground running and carry his goal scoring form of nine goals in 26 games from the Eredivisie and the Europa League to the Championship.

A lack of goals has been a problem and Stoke have tried to address that.

They moved for two wingers on deadline day, firstly Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan from Crystal Palace and then Ato Ampah on a permanent deal from Chelsea.

Both are young but, in the case of Ampah, what is the plan for him? Will he be pushing for a first team start now or is he one for the future?

Rak-Sakyi feels like he is ready to slot straight in having played in the Championship last year with Sheffield United and had an impressive season on loan.

He will also provide cover and competition for Sorba Thomas, Million Manhoef and Lamine Cisse.

There was one surprise departure with academy defender Jaden Dixon agreeing a permanent move to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Stoke fans had no seen a lot of the 18-year-old but will now watch how his career develops with interest.