Versatile midfielder Michael Tonge has joined Championship side Preston on loan until the New Year after failing to force his way into the Potters first team.
Tonge was signed for £2,000,000 from Sheffield United in the summer of 2008 but never made an impression in the Potteries and after only one league start last season has failed to see any Premier League action so far in 2008/9.
City will be hoping that Tonge impresses and they can recoup as much of the fee they paid as possible.
Preston's next game, and Tonge's possible debut, will be against Newcastle United this weekend.
The midfielder move see's him join Carl Dickinson, Ryan Shotton(both Barnsley), Andrew Davies, Richard Cresswell(both Sheffield United) and David Kitson(Middlesbrough) as Potters players on loan to Championship sides whilst Ibrahima Sonko is on loan to Premier League Hull, Ben Marshall is at League Two side Cheltenham Town and keeper Danzelle St.Louis-Hamilton is at Conference North side Vauxhall Motors.