Kitson missing for Potters

Stoke will still be without striker Dave Kitson, recovering from a knee injury, for tomorrow’s Carling Cup quarter-final at home to Derby, while midfielder Michael Tonge is cup-tied.

Boss Tony Pulis seems unlikely to make the wholesale changes to his line-up that he did in previous rounds against Reading and Rotherham, as the Potteries club bid to reach their first major semi-final for 36 years.

Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen could take over from first-choice Thomas Sorensen while Glenn Whelan could also figure in midfield. Ryan Shawcross may return to defence.

Provisional squad: Simonsen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Shawcross, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Soares, Diao, Amdy Faye, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller, Sorensen, Whelan, Cresswell, Dickinson, Pugh, Sonko, Olofinjana, Wilkinson.