Whelan in line for return

Stoke boss Tony Pulis could be set to welcome back midfielder Glenn Whelan into his side for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match against Sunderland.

Whelan returned to training on Thursday after recovering from the hamstring problem he picked up in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool earlier this month.

Pulis has no other injury worries ahead of the clash at the Britannia but striker Cameron Jerome could be set to leave the club on loan before the weekend after npower Championship side Blackburn were strongly linked with a move for the player.

Provisional squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron, Upson, Shotton, Wilson, Whelan, Etherington, Delap, Palacios, Jones, Jerome, Crouch, Walters, Kightly, Whitehead, Adam, Edu, Nzonzi, Owen, Ness, Wilkinson.