United manager David Moyes used Wednesday's 1-0 home win over Real Sociedad in the UEFA Champions League as an opportunity to give the striker a rest after he recently struggled with a hamstring and toe injury.
Moyes admitted it was a gamble to leave the 30-year-old out of the Sociedad game, but is tipping last season's top scorer in the Premier League to make a comeback against a Stoke side without a league win since the end of August.
"Robin, I hope, will be fit for the weekend," said Moyes.
"He's had a couple of niggling injuries even before they went on international duty and they have all just caught up on him a little bit.
"I felt if I could get the chance to give him a breather a little bit I would do. Fortunately for us it worked out fine."
Van Persie took his tally for United in the Premier League to four goals in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Southampton.
‘Even though it was late in the game, the Arsenal fans started singing my name. It felt like the moment I announced myself as a professional footballer’: Ex-Gunners star recalls scoring first senior goal as a teenager at Highbury
'I started to drive myself crazy': Former Manchester United midfielder explains why it all went wrong for him under Erik ten Hag
