Stoke City Football Club News

• Nickname:Potters
• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Bench role concerns Whelan

15 Oct 2008 - 11:34:56

Click To Enlarge

Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan has admitted to being frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities at the Britannia Stadium this season.

The 24-year-old Irishman has made just three starts this term and admits to being concerned by being on the fringes of manager Tony Pulis' plans.

He told The Sentinel: "I spoke to the manager at Stoke about why I wasn't in the team.

"He says I am still in his plans, but I just have to be patient and to make sure I take my chance when it comes along.

"So I am confident I can get back into the team, it's just a matter of time.

"It's hard when you are watching from the bench all the time. Any player wants to play every week and I am no different. It's not nice to be on the bench week after week.

"It's probably the first time it's happened in my career since I left Manchester City and that was four years ago.

"We have a big squad at Stoke, everyone wants to play, but only eleven can start.

"I have played two League Cup games in the last while and I've also been playing for the reserves. It's not ideal, but I'll just get on with it."