David Prutton, a former Premier League midfielder and current Sky Sports pundit, has weighed in on whether Stoke City should consider selling young striker Nathan Lowe or keep him in their first-team for the upcoming season. This comes after Lowe’s struggle to make an impact upon his return from an impressive loan spell at Walsall, where he had a standout season. Lowe joined Walsall on loan in the summer and quickly became one of the most outstanding players in League Two, earning several individual awards and scoring 18 goals while contributing seven assists in 30 appearances as the club pushed for promotion.
His stellar form in the fourth tier prompted Stoke City to exercise their option to recall him in January, after their own loanee, Tom Cannon, was returned to Leicester City. However, the 19-year-old has struggled to replicate that form in the Championship and has found it difficult to make an impact under manager Mark Robins. With his limited appearances and lack of involvement in recent matchdays, Stoke faces a crucial decision about Lowe’s future in the coming months.
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Prutton discussed the potential for Lowe’s future at Stoke City. He noted that while the Potters surprised many by recalling Lowe from his loan spell at Walsall, the move made sense at the time due to the club’s lack of firepower in their battle against relegation. Despite being one of the best players in League Two, Lowe has struggled to adapt to the higher level of competition in the Championship. He did score a goal on his return to the squad against West Brom, but has only featured in eight matches since, with no involvement in Stoke’s last three league games.
Prutton suggested that Stoke might consider selling Lowe if an offer close to his potential value came in, but he also believes that Lowe has the potential to succeed under Robins. He emphasized that any decision would come down to the financial offer Stoke receives, saying, “It depends what money they’d get for him… If there is a sizeable and workable fee, they’d have to think about that.” Prutton also highlighted the fact that Stoke City has struggled to finish in the top half of the table since their relegation from the Premier League, and a player like Lowe could be crucial in helping the club improve in the Championship next season.
Despite his recent challenges, Lowe’s long-standing connection to Stoke City—having joined the club as a 10-year-old despite being born in Harlow, Essex—makes it unlikely he would seek a permanent move away soon. Lowe’s standout performances at Walsall earned him nominations for both League Two Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season. However, he himself would likely acknowledge that he has yet to fully adjust to life in the Championship. With his game-time limited, particularly with Stoke’s precarious position near the foot of the table, Lowe has found himself competing for a spot with other attacking options, such as Ali Al-Hamadi and Sam Gallagher.
Mark Robins has praised Lowe’s potential, describing him as a player with “so much potential” to improve. Given Lowe’s age and Stoke’s likely survival in the Championship this season, a loan move to a League One club might be a potential solution for next season, although the club could still offer him another opportunity to prove himself in the second tier.
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