Shawcross Not Available

Our chances of bringing in Ryan Shawcross on loan, as it was thought Paul Jewell had been keen on doing, have been dashed with Stoke manager Tony Pulis ruling out letting him leave.

'Ryan has been part of this club and part of this team and I still think the world of him. He's going to be a top, top player, but that doesn't always mean you're in the team every week.

'You look at all top players who've now made it and you can bet they've had periods during their career when they've had to fight for their place.

'This is the Premier League and there should be tough competition for places, hopefully in all areas of the team.

'I haven't forgotten what Ryan did last season - and I certainly haven't overlooked what he can do for us in the future.

'With us still being in the Carling Cup, it's obviously important we keep players, so we have the right numbers at our disposal.'

Pulis was talking to The Sentinel.

Stoke signed the 21-year-old from Manchester United last season, after a loan spell, and he has been linked with Derby a few times since but we appear to have no chance of bringing in the central defender now. Jewell has still expressed an interest in moving into the loan market for a new defender however.

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