With several players involved in World Cup qualifiers over the weekend, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis may be forgiven for having nightmares.

 

With the late-show win over relegation rivals Middlesbrough still fresh in his mind, the Potters manager is frustrated to have to wait a fortnight to capitalise on that performance. "You just wish our next game was tomorrow after a win like the Middlesbrough game," he said, "winning games helps you gather momentum.”

Republic of Ireland internationals Stephen Kelly and Glenn Whelan along with Denmarks Thomas Sorensen and Abdoulaye Faye of Senegal will all play important roles for their countries over the coming days. But their fitness on their return to the Britannia is a concern for Pulis. “Some of them are going to be playing two games, so I'll have something in my mind for the West Brom game," he said, “Whether they come back fresh enough, we'll have to see. It's something we'll have to look at."

Pulis, meanwhile, is already rumoured to be looking at fresh faces for summer. One name on his shopping list may be the former Portsmouth striker Benjani who is on the comeback trail for Manchester City but may not fit in with the owners idea of a big name striker. The £6M signing has been hit by a number of injuries since his arrival at Eastlands and Mark Hughes may decide to allow the Zimbabwe international to leave.