Stoke City Football Club News

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

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Pulis expects Beattie recovery

14 Apr 2009 - 07:35:50

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Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is hopeful that star striker James Beattie will recover from a head injury in time for next weekend's clash with Blackburn Rovers.

Beattie had to be replaced during the second half of the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United, having been cut by a flying elbow from Sebastien Bassong earlier on in the game.

Pulis told The Sentinel: "The blood was dripping into his eye and it was obviously becoming difficult for him.

"I thought he did well for ten or 15 minutes after the incident, but then I thought he started to fade a bit and it was right to bring him off.

"He's had 12 stitches in the wound, so it's quite a big one, but at the moment I'd say he should be okay for Blackburn on Saturday.

"It's definitely one he'll want to play in, because they were his first club."

Beattie has scored six goals in 11 games for the Potters since his £3.5million arrival from Sheffield United in January.