Doubts over Delap and Diao

Stoke are sweating on fitness tests for their long throw specialist Rory Delap and fellow midfielder Salif Diao ahead of tomorrow’s home clash against Fulham.

Delap had an injection in a bid to cure an arm injury this week, while Diao has been under treatment since limping off with a calf problem in the first half of last week’s draw at Newcastle.

Glenn Whelan, who impressed after replacing Diao, may win his first Barclays Premier League start since the first day of the season, while Michael Tonge and Tom Soares are among those on stand-by for Delap.

Defender Ryan Shawcross will not start despite returning to training after injuring his back three weeks ago, while Dave Kitson (knee) and Liam Lawrence (ankle) are still out.

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