Source: PA
Potters making progress - Pulis
Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes the current cold snap has highlighted the progress the club has made in recent years.
Last winter the Potters were forced to abandon their training ground and use the Britannia Stadium when snow made their pitches unplayable.
This year, however, new facilities at the club's Clayton Wood base mean disruption by the weather has been minimal.
Pulis told the club's official website: "At times like this, you do realise just how far we have come in a short space of time. We are much better equipped to deal with the severe weather and that can only have a positive effect on our preparations.
"The new synthetic playing surface is fantastic, the top surface that you can get in the world and we have that now as an option.
"Ideally, you would always try to use grass if you can, but this is definitely the next best thing and we wouldn't have a problem using it."
