Source: Team_Talk
Pulis wants more from Pennant
Stoke manager Tony Pulis hopes Jermaine Pennant can continue his fine form for the club in Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.[LNB] Pennant is hoping to secure a permanent deal at the Britannia Stadium having joined on a season-long loan from Real Zaragoza.[LNB]The 27-year-old has yet to complete 90 minutes for the Potters but he put in another impressive performance on his return to the starting line-up in win over one of his old clubs in Birmingham.[LNB]Pulis now wants him to maintain that form as he comes up against the club that released him last year.[LNB]"Jermaine has done smashing," Pulis said. "His fitness levels have been a little bit low but he has been playing abroad and maybe not working as hard as some of our players work.[LNB]"But I thought on Tuesday he was absolutely brilliant. We're hoping he continues and I am sure he will be looking forward to this game immensely.[LNB]"We're hoping he puts in a similar performance - if selected."[LNB]Pennant spent time on loan at Portsmouth after being frozen out by former Anfield boss Rafael Benitez and joined Zaragoza in the summer of 2009.[LNB]He later fired a parting shot at Benitez, accusing the Spaniard of failing to get the best out of his players.[LNB]Pennant himself failed to make a mark at Zaragoza and after an unhappy stint in La Liga is now eager to get it right at right.[LNB]Pulis added: "I think he is desperate to get back into English football, and he has done brilliantly."[LNB]Pennant left the Britannia Stadium field on Tuesday with Stoke seemingly cruising to victory at 2-0.[LNB]But the Potters were made to battle as Blues battled back to 2-2 with a quickfire double.[LNB]It was left to Dean Whitehead to settle home nerves five minutes from time with a winner that ensured Stoke would finally end a losing run overshadowed by refereeing controversy.[LNB]Pulis' men had lost their four previous league games - against Bolton, Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland - and been on the end of rough decisions in all of them.[LNB]Pulis said: "It was an important game to win in many respects.[LNB]"In Premier League football you do go on these runs - if you look at the sequence of games, with the only home game being against Manchester United, it was always going to be a difficult time for us.[LNB]"When you go away from home you need the breaks, one or two things going your way, and we just didn't get it.[LNB]"But you keep level, keep going. We're very pleased that we won and the manner we won is pleasing."[LNB]Pulis is now relishing Saturday's contest against Liverpool, who have started to put their own poor spell behind them with a four-game unbeaten league run.[LNB]The Reds were in the bottom three last month but are now just a point off fifth place and the pressure on new manager Roy Hodgson has eased slightly.[LNB]Pulis said: "We have got a couple of little knocks and a couple of little niggles - but we are playing Liverpool.[LNB]"Every one of my players will be spitting blood to be on that teamsheet because it is one of the great games this club will play this year.[LNB]"Liverpool are a fantastic football club with great tradition.[LNB]"It was brilliant, the atmosphere, on Tuesday and you don't have to worry about it on Saturday.[LNB]"It is completely sold out and when we play the top five or six clubs in this league the supporters on the terraces are pretty amazing.[LNB]"For people who have not been to a game at the Britannia, it is worth coming just to listen to the noise of the crowd supporting their team."[LNB]Pulis is also pleased to see that a fellow British manager in Hodgson is starting to turn around Liverpool's problems.[LNB]He added: "You hope Roy does well, he has been a terrific football man.[LNB]"His career has taken him through international management, he has worked at the lower levels and at great clubs like Inter Milan. Now he is at a great club like Liverpool.[LNB]"He is a decent man as well and apart from Saturday and when we play them at Anfield, I hope he does well."
