Stoke City Football Club News

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

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Gudjohnsen nearing full fitness

23 Sep 2010 - 11:43:51

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Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is closer to challenging for a full first-team debut after coming through the entire 90 minutes of Stoke City's reserve team clash with Walsall.

The 32-year-old former Spurs and Chelsea forward has featured once as a substitute for the Potters since his arrival on loan from Monaco, but accepts that he has had to play catch-up in the fitness stakes.

Gudjohnsen told the club's official website: "This was a big step for me, getting through the 90 minutes.

"I felt much better than when I played for the first 45 minutes of the last reserve match and I believe that I am getting much, much closer now.

"It has not been an ideal situation. I would have preferred to have done a full pre-season with the rest of the lads and then been ready from the word go.

"But playing catch-up was something I anticipated and something I needed to. Going through it hasn't been pleasant, but I knew that it had to be done.

"Once I am ready, I will play a big part in Stoke's season and I will give the supporters something to shout about."