Source: PA
Fitness the key - Pulis
New Stoke signings Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jermaine Pennant and Marc Wilson have been told by manager Tony Pulis they have to pull their weight or they will be spending plenty of time on the sidelines.
The trio were brought in on transfer deadline day and Pulis has admitted they are slightly behind their colleagues in terms of their fitness.
They have had the international break to acclimatise to the Stoke way of doing things but the real test will come on match day, with all three expected to be in the squad for Monday's Barclays Premier League visit of Aston Villa.
Pulis, who has always emphasised how strong a team unit he has, demands no less than 100% effort and commitment from his players and that is something the newcomers are getting to grips with.
"We need Eidur, Jermaine and Marc to understand it is all about the team and not individuals and [they have] to throw off the shackles of individuality and join the group - that is what it is all about," said the Potters boss. "We've been together for a long time and we have been successful because we are a club and have stuck together in difficult times and we will do the same this time around.
"Our supporters want to see a team which is committed to their club; a team that runs around and gives everything week in, week out. Eidur and Jermaine have got outstanding talent and we think Marc is going to be a good player technically but unless they work as hard as the rest of the group, unless they are prepared to put it in for the team, then they won't play. The team has always come before any individual and Eidur, Jermaine and Marc have been told that on a few occasions already."
