Pulis waits on Irish duo after ‘draining’ week

STOKE manager Tony Pulis will assess the mental and physical state of Liam Lawrence and Glenn Whelan before he decides whether the two Republic of Ireland internationals can play in tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Portsmouth.

The pair figured in the Republic’s World Cup play-off defeat by France in Paris on Wednesday, when Thierry Henry’s handball set up the goal that has secured a place in the finals for the French.

The two midfielders only returned to club training yesterday and Whelan is already an injury doubt with the groin strain that curtailed his involvement in the Paris match.