Source: team_talk
Pulis: Shawcross can improve
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis believes the best is still to come from highly-rated skipper Ryan Shawcross.
It has been another good week for Shawcross, despite Stoke's 4-2 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday.
Called up for his first competitive England games - even though he did not get on in the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland - Shawcross also made a positive contribution at Old Trafford, pressurising Wayne Rooney into the early own goal which put the visitors in front.
But Pulis is adamant it will not end there for the former United trainee, who joined Stoke when he left the Red Devils, initially on loan, in 2007.
"There is always an opportunity to take a player from one of the big clubs," he said.
"The big clubs spend a hell of a lot of money on their youth development programmes but there is always a player there who might get stuck in the traffic of people coming through.
"Ryan is one of them. He was a great signing and the good thing is he wants to get better.
"He has that desire about him."
Shawcross has previously been linked with a return to United, while the Chester-born defender is also believed to have attracted interest from Tottenham.
However, Pulis believes, in the short term at least, Shawcross is happy where he is.
"No chance," said the Stoke boss of a potential January transfer window move.
"It has been a good marriage. Ryan is our captain and has been selected for England and he is only just 25.
"We won't see the best of him for another two or three years."
