Big guns return for Stoke

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is expected to recall his rested stars for Saturday’s Premier League clash at Fulham.

After making 10 changes for Tuesday’s FA Cup replay victory at Cardiff, Pulis was accused of devaluing the competition, claims which he later rejected.

Only Danny Higginbotham, who lasted just nine minutes before limping off with a hamstring injury, survived from the team which beat Bolton in the Premiership last Saturday.

Danny Collins is likely to be recalled for the injured Higginbotham at left-back in the only probable change to the team which beat Bolton to lift Stoke to an impressive eighth place in the table.

“We lost at home against Fulham over the busy Christmas period and would love to get a result down there,” said assistant manager Dave Kemp.

“We got caught cold in the early stages at our place, but there is no chance of that happening at Fulham where we will be ready. The manager is meticulous in how we prepare and we will be travelling by train on Friday to avoid a long bus journey.”

Kemp confirmed Stoke had held talks with Aston Villa’s out of favour striker John Carew and were continuing to pursue several other targets as the January transfer window enters its last 10 days.

“We’ve spoken to Carew and there are a lot of other possibilities. We could also be selling one or two players because everyone has their price, but we won’t be doing that unless we can bring better players in.”

Stoke pulled out of a six-million-pound deal for Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba last week after he failed a medical because of a knee problem but Kemp refused to rule the deal out.

“That looks dead unless we can sort out a loan and then see how he goes on.”