Rory Delap
#24
Right winger, centre midfield
d.o.b: 06/07/76
Signed: January 2007
Games this season: 16/2
Goals this season: 2
Total club games: 176/13
Total club goals: 8
Signed on a free in January 2007 after initially signing on loan in October 2006.
Made his debut in a 4-0 away win at Leeds but then broke his leg in two places after 9 minutes,on his home debut, against his parent club Sunderland.
Stoke had already agreed a deal and stayed by him, signing him as soon as the window opened.
Did target the end of the season for a return but a slight setback scupperred his plans and returned for the start of pre-season.
Played the full season in 2007/8 and due to his lack of match sharpness he didn't regain full form until Christmas where he started controlling games from the centre of midfield.
His enormous throw ins were used as a major attacking weapon and set up goals on numerous occasions as the opposition failed to deal with the direct delivery and this season they have received masses of press attention as the Potters have utilised them to great effect. In the first three months of 2008/9 he had more assists than any other player in the league, all coming via a throw in with the press, and top flight defenders, amazed by the dangers the missiles caused.
Continued to put himself about and be a nuisance in the middle, even though he's now 35, and amazingly remains one of the fittest members of the squad.
His fitness allows him to carry on as a central midfielder but he does look out of his depth when employed on the right flank and it will be interesting to see if he can hold down a place in the Potters midfield after another summer break.