Source: Team_Talk
Fuller available for Molineux opener
Stoke have been assured that Ricardo Fuller will not be banned for Saturday's opener at Wolves following his red card in a friendly last week.[LNB] Fears had been raised that Fuller would be forced to miss the trip to Molineux after he was sent off for violent conduct in Friday night's pre-season game against Wrexham.[LNB]However, a statement on Stoke's website today said the club had received confirmation that the Jamaican would be available for the match.[LNB]Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira also recently escaped a ban from Premier League action after being dismissed in a friendly against Inter Milan.[LNB]Meanwhile, Potters boss Tony Pulis has backed Ryan Shawcross to win his place back in the England squad.[LNB]Shawcross, who received his first Three Lions call-up last season, was not selected by Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly against Hungary, but Pulis believes the defender could even captain his country in the future.[LNB]"Ryan had a couple of injuries at the end of last season which pushed him back a bit," Pulis told the Stoke Sentinel.[LNB]"But he will play for England and could one day captain England.[LNB]"He's quick and got good feet - and he's a good footballer as well."[LNB]Although he would be delighted to see Shawcross receive further England recognition, Pulis has the consolation of knowing he will not be losing the player for what he feels is a badly-timed round of international friendlies just days before the start of the Barclays Premier League season.[LNB]"I don't want any of my players going away," Pulis said.[LNB]"I think it's a joke there's an international game before the season starts.[LNB]"I think all clubs should get together. If they want to play friendlies then they should pay the players' wages."[LNB]
