Stoke midfielder James O'Connor has been linked with a move to first-division West Bromwich Albion and the deal is set to happen in the next couple of days.

O'Connor starred for second-division Stoke in their Auto Windscreens Shield win last season along with fellow Irishmen Graham Kavanagh and Clive Clarke.

He joined Stoke along with Clarke from crack Irish schoolboy outfit St. Joseph's Boys, but it took him a long time to come to the notice of Irish underage managers. Last season his dream came true when he was picked for the Irish u21 side and he has gone on to become a regular in the team.

O'Connor is a free-scoring midfielder who will run all day and Stoke will do everything they can to hold onto him. But the lure of moving up a league could be too strong for the Wicklow born player.