Stoke skipper poised to return

Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye could make his return to first-team action in tomorrow night’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan.

Faye, who has been suffering with a back problem, failed a late fitness test before the 3-0 victory over Blackburn on Saturday but could recover in time to play at the DW Stadium.

Andy Wilkinson received stitches to a head injury in the Blackburn game but is available for selection.

Provisional squad: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Wilkinson, Amdy Faye, Higginbotham, Collins, Lawrence, Sidibe, Whitehead, Delap, Diao, Kitson, Beattie, Etherington, Fuller, Tuncay, Pugh, Whelan, Simonsen, Begovic.