Tuncay ready to fight for place

Stoke striker Tuncay Sanli insists he is happy to fight for his place at the Britannia Stadium.

The Turkey international was linked with a move away from the Potteries in the summer after manager Tony Pulis brought in Kenwyne Jones, Jon Walters and Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Tuncay, who joined Stoke from Middlesbrough for £5m last summer, was not even on the bench for Monday’s match against Aston Villa and left the ground before kick-off.

But he dismissed any talk of a rift with Pulis, telling The Sentinel: “Every player wants to play and I am an emotional person, but for the gaffer it is very hard with his choices, because he has so many options.

“I am okay and there is no problem with the gaffer. I still love the club and the supporters. I love them and they love me. This is my team and my job is here.

“It is only the weather I do not like here.”

The majority of Tuncay’s 40 appearances for Stoke have come as a substitute but, with Turkey having begun their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, he is determined to keep staking his claim.

“If I am not ready for Stoke, then I am not ready for Turkey,” he added. “That is why I am ready to play all the time.”