Stoke City loan watch: crisis talks, injury update and comeback game

Stoke City loan watch highlighted a tense situation for forward Smit in Germany following a 2-0 defeat to Nurnberg. The German club held two days of crisis talks regarding head coach Florian Kohfeldt before sporting director Paul Fernie confirmed their commitment to the manager. Smit has scored five goals in 12 matches during his season-long loan as his team battles to escape the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, 21-year-old loanee striker Nathan Lowe faces extra weeks sidelined in Scotland due to a stress fracture, according to boss Marink Reedijk. Meanwhile, forward Emre Tezgel made his injury comeback by playing 60 minutes in Wycombe Wanderers' 2-0 FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley, with manager Tom Hounsell praising his return.