Jon Walters
#19
Striker, Right Winger
d.o.b: 20/9/83
Signed: August 2010
Games this season: 24/5
Goals this season: 6
Total club games: 60/15
Total club goals: 18
Was signed for an initial fee of £2.75m, rising to £3.25m with add ons, after manager Tony Pulis tracked him for over two years at Ipswich.
After a steady start to his career, which included spells at Blackburn, Bolton, Hull, Crewe, Scunthorpe, Barnsley, Wrexham and Chester he finally started to show his potential after moving to Portman Road.
Then 23, Walters made a superb initial impression, playing up front, and was Town top scorer as he netted thirteen goals in forty appearances, and also picked up the clubs player of the year award at the end of that season.
Two less prolific seasons followed, mainly due to him transferring to the right wing, but he continued to shine and was made captain in 2009.
Was thought that he would most probably be played more on the right than up front for Stoke, with his chances up front limited to when Kenwyne Jones was unavailable but he instead bobbed in and out of the team for the first half of the season, but as a striker, before setting up a great partnership with Jones as the Potters went on a great late run. He ended the season as joint top scorer with Jones with a dozen strikes.
Will have to fight off more competition during 2011/12 as the Potters have Sidibe and Fuller returning from injury and also look to bring in another frontman.