Jones starts against Wolves

Stoke’s £8m record signing Kenwyne Jones went straight into Tony Pulis’ side for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League opener at Wolves.

Pulis expressed doubts about Jones’ match fitness after his move from Sunderland earlier this week but the Trinidad and Tobago forward proved himself ready for the derby at Molineux.

Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye overcame injuries to join him in the Potters’ line-up while Thomas Sorensen kept his place in goal despite pressure from Asmir Begovic.

Big spenders Wolves handed debuts to new signings Jelle van Damme and Steven Fletcher but last season’s top scorer Kevin Doyle missed out with a calf injury.

Wolverhampton: Hahnemann, Foley, Berra, Craddock, Van Damme, Jarvis, Henry, David Jones, Ward, Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake.

Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Stearman, Halford, Keogh, Milijas, Guedioura.

Stoke: Sorensen, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Jones, Fuller.

Subs: Begovic, Collins, Sidibe, Pugh, Sanli, Tonge, Wilkinson.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)