Ben Johnson believes that incremental improvements to the "small details" within matches have been the foundation of Stoke City's dramatic turnaround in the Championship this season.

The on-loan full-back, who joined the Potters on a season-long deal from Ipswich Town in August, was speaking to BBC Radio Stoke after Stoke headed into the international break sitting seventh in the table, having taken 13 points from a possible 15 across their last five league outings.

That run represents a remarkable shift for a side that opened the campaign with three successive defeats. The most recent victory in the sequence, a comeback win over Sheffield United on 19 September, was particularly notable for the composure Stoke showed when behind.

"We scored two unbelievable goals, which aren't going to happen every week, but I feel that we got what we deserved out of that game with the way we played," said Johnson, 26. "We could have panicked and played into their hands, we could have started going long and rushing things, but we didn't. That was definitely a statement win."

Johnson was candid about the period that preceded the unbeaten run, pointing to performances against Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers as evidence that the underlying quality was present even when results were not following. "For large periods of those games, we performed well," he said. "It was just those small details and I feel like we're improving with those each week."

The defender is one of several new faces who arrived at the club in the final fortnight before the transfer deadline. American midfielders Jack McGlynn and Luca Bombino, both signed from Major League Soccer clubs on 1 September, have quickly integrated into the group. Johnson described how all three initially shared a hotel and have since built a firm friendship off the pitch.

"Ever since they've come, I wanted to make them feel welcome because that's what the other players did for me," he said. "It's important for every player to feel welcome, especially coming from a different culture in the MLS and their ages as well."

Johnson was particularly complimentary about both new arrivals. Bombino, he noted, flew in just 48 hours before the Norwich fixture and "pretty much changed the game" after coming off the bench. McGlynn, meanwhile, has been contributing goals as well as his passing range in midfield.

The blend of experience and fresh arrivals finding their feet quickly is a theme running through Stoke's recent results. Johnson, a former West Ham academy product with considerable Championship experience, is comfortable enough in the role of senior figure despite only recently joining himself.

The international break offers the Potters a moment to consolidate rather than celebrate. Seven points off an automatic promotion spot, Stoke will need consistency across a long second tier season to make those early dropped points feel irrelevant. But the mood inside the camp, if Johnson's assessment is accurate, reflects a group that has found both its confidence and its collective identity ahead of a demanding autumn schedule.

"Of course there will be tough situations and tough periods in the season," Johnson acknowledged, "but I feel like the performance is the most important thing first." That is a level-headed outlook from a player who has clearly settled quickly at a club with serious ambitions for the second half of the campaign.

Frequently asked

Where are Stoke City in the Championship table?
Stoke City are seventh in the Championship table heading into the international break, having taken 13 points from their last five league games.
Who is Ben Johnson and why is he at Stoke City?
Ben Johnson is a 26-year-old full-back who joined Stoke City on a season-long loan from Ipswich Town in August. He previously came through the academy at West Ham United.
Who did Stoke City sign before the transfer deadline?
Alongside Ben Johnson, Stoke signed American midfielders Jack McGlynn and Luca Bombino from Major League Soccer clubs on 1 September, completing a busy final fortnight in the window.