Pulis not buying into speculation

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has dismissed transfer speculation as he prepares for Saturday’s clash at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Newspaper reports have linked Pulis with West Ham duo Carlton Cole and Mark Noble, while English Premier League rivals are said to be interested in Stoke’s Abdoulaye Faye, Glenn Whelan and Tuncay.

But Pulis insisted: “We haven’t made bids for any players at West Ham and we haven’t received bids for any of our own players. Speculation always runs wild in the transfer windows and I shouldn’t take too much notice of what you read.”

“If and when we do any business we will do it club to club and not through the press. We always try to keep a lid on things until deals are done, but we recognise that is not always possible because of the way the system works.”

Pulis has no serious injury worries ahead of Saturday’s game with only long-term casualty Mamady Sidibe and outcast Eidur Gudjohnsen – who is yet to start a game for the club – unavailable.

Sidibe is continuing his recuperation from a torn Achilles tendon while ex-Chelsea star Gudjohnsen, who did not even make the bench for Stoke’s last two games, has picked up a neck injury.

Pulis made seven changes to his team for last Saturday’s FA Cup draw against Cardiff, but looks certain to revert to his tried and trusted against Bolton, with Asmir Begovic, Dean Whitehead, Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones among those recalled.

Pulis added: “The players have trained really well this week and we had a terrific session on Tuesday when they all worked their socks off. The performance against Cardiff showed there is good competition for places and that is a healthy situation for me and the football club.”

“We are all looking forward to the game because we felt hard done by when we lost to a late goal at Bolton earlier in the season.”