Pulis waits on Etherington fitness

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is waiting to see whether a sugar injection in Matthew Etherington’s back has cured the winger’s injury problems in time for him to play in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham.

Kenwyne Jones, Jermaine Pennant and Marc Wilson are also doubtful for the match at the Britannia Stadium as they bid to recover from their own injury problems.

Wilson Palacios, Ricardo Fuller and Danny Higginbotham are definitely out, while Pulis will decide whether to rest Glenn Whelan after the midfielder helped the Republic of Ireland reach the play-offs for Euro 2012 over the past week.

Provisional squad: Begovic, Wilson, Huth, Shawcross, Upson, Wilkinson, Woodgate, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Walters, Sorensen, Shotton, Arismendi, Pennant, Delap, Crouch, Jones, Jerome, Nash.