Sorensen to face Hammers

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has confirmed that goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen will play in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham at the Britannia Stadium.

Sorensen will step in for first-choice stopper Asmir Begovic as he has done for the previous rounds.

Matthew Etherington, who came on as a substitute in last week’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat to the Hammers, appears to be fully over his recent back problems so is in contention to start against his old club, but fellow winger Jermaine Pennant has a knee complaint and will be assessed ahead of the game.

Abdoulaye Faye could return after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Danny Higginbotham is available again having missed the match at Upton Park because his wife had gone into labour.

Team (from): Sorensen, Huth, Wilson, Delap, Faye, Etherington, Whitehead, Jones, Collins, Fuller, Pugh, Whelan, Pennant, Wilkinson, Walters, Carew, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Diao, Begovic, Shotton.