Stoke City Football Club News

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

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Pulis expects Kitson to shine

27 Aug 2009 - 08:03:59

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Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is hoping Dave Kitson's Carling Cup winner against Leyton Orient can kick-start his career at the Britannia Stadium.

Kitson, a club record £5.5million signing from Reading last summer, put a nightmare 13 months behind him to net a stunning 30-yard effort to open his Potters account and settle a tight second tie 1-0 in extra-time.

The striker struggled in his first season at Stoke last year and was loaned back to Reading but, after finally breaking his duck, Pulis believes Kitson is ready to prove his worth to the Potters.

"Kitson scored a great goal to win the game. He should not struggle with confidence the way our supporters have been behind him," he said.

"I have never known anything like it when a player you bring in doesn't hit the back of the net but he is still adored by the fans.

"They have been fantastic with him. He had enough opportunities but it was a great strike. It was a worthy goal to win the game.

"Dave has been unlucky at times. He had a bad year last year with things away from football as well. But he has got his head down and looks a lot sharper this year.

"I am just hoping he will now score a few more."