Stevenage can expect to face some star Premier League names on Tuesday with Stoke City assistant boss Mark Bowen saying ‘we will go as strong as we can’ for the EFL Cup tie at the Lamex Stadium.

Stevenage enjoyed a 1-0 win away at Championship side Ipswich Town in the first round courtesy of Ben Kennedy’s effort.

That performance did not go unnoticed by last season’s EFL Cup semi-finalists and their manager Mark Hughes.

Ahead of the second round tie, Hughes’ number two Bowen told his club’s website: “We will go as strong as we can tomorrow because a red light has already been flagged up to us, in the last round Stevenage went away to Ipswich, played a very strong side and won the tie.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult tie especially at their place.

“We’re a bit thin at the moment and have one or two injuries as well so we haven’t got a lot of options so the full squad that was considered for last Saturday’s game [a 4-1 Premier League home loss to Manchester City] will be travelling to Stevenage.”