Whelan nearing Stoke return

Stoke boss Tony Pulis hopes Republic of Ireland player Glenn Whelan will be fit enough to make his return for the Potters when they take on Sunderland this Saturday.

Whelan, who picked up a hamstring injury against Liverpool earlier this month, returned to training today after he missed Ireland’s World Cup qualification games and Stoke’s 4-2 defeat by Manchester United last weekend.