Source: Team_Talk
Delap: Shawcross can deal with Carroll
Stoke midfielder Rory Delap has backed captain Ryan Shawcross to snuff out the threat of Andy Carroll in tomorrow's match at Newcastle.[LNB] The Magpies striker, who was a revelation in the club's championship-winning campaign, scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Aston Villa on their first appearance at St James' Park this season.[LNB]He took his tally to four with a goal in his next game at Wolves but Delap believes centre-back Shawcross, who is on the fringes of Fabio Capello's England squad, will be able to cope.[LNB]"On his day, Ryan can defend against anything," he said. "It's an honour to captain your club and Ryan has been given that honour and is doing very well.[LNB]"I think Ryan is going from strength to strength and getting better and better. And games like Sunday's will prove that.[LNB]"Andy Carroll was excellent last season and people were wondering about him in the Premier League, but he's proved he can do it at the top level."[LNB]Delap is enjoying the increased competition within the squad this season, even if he has not been able to respond with the goals manager Tony Pulis craves from his midfielders.[LNB]"Everyone's got to keep on their toes because there's at least two players available for every position now," added the 34-year-old. "The strength we have here now is as good as I've known it.[LNB]"But those out of the team haven't gone to the papers moaning and groaning about it. That's why we've been as successful as we have.[LNB]"If I'm not playing, I'm not going to sit there and sulk. If I'm not in the team I'm going to look at what I can improve."[LNB]The trip to Newcastle is always a tough one but Delap hopes the added incentive of a number of Stoke's team being former Sunderland players - the likes of Dean Whitehead and Danny Collins - will add an extra dimension to the game.[LNB]And as an ex-Black Cat he would dearly love to end his 61-game Premier League goal drought against his former club's bitter rivals.[LNB]"We've got quite a little contingent from Sunderland here, so I think that will raise the atmosphere a little bit more, not that it needs that," Delap told The Sentinel.[LNB]"It would be great to stick one in up there. I used to get a few, but I think Chelsea was the last one I got a couple of years ago.[LNB]"It's something I have been working on, but sometimes it just doesn't happen for you out there.[LNB]"It's definitely something I've got to improve on."
