Etherington and Walters facing fitness checks

Stoke will check on the fitness of Matthew Etherington and Jon Walters ahead of their Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at the Britannia Stadium on New Year’s Day.

Etherington (ankle) and Walters (shoulder) both had to come off during Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham as they were still feeling the effects of the knocks they had picked up in the 2-0 win at Blackburn on St Stephen's Day.