Former Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal in running to replace under-fire Gary Rowett at Stoke

FORMER Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal is in the running to replace under-pressure Gary Rowett at Stoke.

Rowett is on the brink after a desperate run saw them pick up just one point from three games since Boxing Day to drop to 14th in the Championship and eight points adrift of a play-off spot.

The Stoke players believe Rowett will be axed if they lose to Shrewsbury in today’s lunchtime FA Cup third round tie.

And Portuguese gaffer Carvalhal is in the frame to replace Rowett should his spell at the bet365 Stadium come to an end after less than eight months.

Influential voices in the Stoke hierarchy have touted experienced duo David Moyes and Sam Allardyce for the role.

But there is a growing  boardroom lobby for Carvalhal after the attacking football he played at both Wednesday and the Swans.

Carvalhal led the Hillsborough side into the play-offs in both his two full seasons with the Owls, before they were edged out by Hull and Huddersfield.

Even though he left half-way through last season after a slow start, Carvalhal still boasted a win rate of 43 per cent at Wednesday.

Within days of quitting Hillsborough he had replaced Paul Clement at bottom of the Prem Swansea.

A stunning start which included wins over Watford, Liverpool and Arsenal and saw 18 points from his first 10 games in charge appeared to have steered the Swans to safety.

But an end of season collapse proved fatal with defeat to Stoke on the final day of the season sealing their relegation fate.

Despite that sad end, Carvalhal’s reputation did not suffer unduly with his positivity making him popular with Swans fans.

And while the appointment of either Moyes or Allardyce if Rowett goes would be a “safe” choice the 53-year-old Portuguese is open to the chance to prove himself again in English football, believing he could get the Potters back into the top flight.