Paul Lambert looks for more signings after Kostas Stafylidis

Stoke boss Paul Lambert has indicated he will look to add further signings this month to the loan capture of Kostas Stafylidis that is set to be completed imminently.

The Potters announced on Wednesday evening that they expected to complete the signing of FC Augsburg and Greece left-back Stafylidis on loan for the rest of the season within 24 hours.

The 24-year-old is poised to become the second new addition to Stoke’s squad of the current transfer window, with right-back Moritz Bauer having already joined from Rubin Kazan, and the first since Lambert’s appointment as manager on Monday.

Lambert said on Thursday morning of Stafylidis: “I think he’s a really good left-back, with lots of energy, which we need, and it puts competition in the team, which is really important.

“Hopefully later on today that will go through.

“I think the club have been following him for a little bit and I watched him myself, and I thought he looked very good. So let’s see.”

Asked how many more signings he thought could be in by transfer deadline day, Lambert said: “If we can bring one or two in… and I’m sure everybody at the club will work together to try to do it.

“We’ve spoken about all different lads.

“I have to be fair to the lads who are already here and let them show me what they can do because they are a talented group, but if I can help them and bring people in, then I’ll do it.”

Lambert also said he will speak to Bojan Krkic, amid reports the playmaker wants to cut his season-long loan at Alaves short and return to Stoke.

The manager was speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of his first game in charge of the Staffordshire outfit, Saturday’s Premier League home clash with Huddersfield.

As well as a possible debut for Stafylidis, that match could see club captain Ryan Shawcross return to action, with the centre-back – missing for the last four games due to a calf injury – having trained this week.

Eighteenth-placed Stoke were interested in Gary Rowett, Quique Sanchez Flores and Martin O’Neill, all of whom removed themselves from the running, before appointing Lambert.

It was put to Lambert, who has not managed in the top-flight since being sacked by Aston Villa in 2015, that he might not have expected what has happened.

And he said: “That’s an understatement! If you asked me a week ago what was my plan, I don’t know what I would have been doing.

“This came out of the blue really, and it is an absolute honour to come here.

“I couldn’t spell ‘sleep’ at the moment, let alone anything else! It’s been constant, but really enjoyable to get back into it.

“I’m looking forward to the relationship with the supporters and trying to get a winning team.”

Stoke have lost six of their last eight league games and in their 23 matches this season have conceded 50 goals, more than any other club in the division.