Pulis hopes to include Crouch

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is hopeful striker Peter Crouch will be able to return to action in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game at Aston Villa.

Crouch, who missed last weekend’s 1-0 victory at West Brom having lost some teeth in a collision with Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini in the previous match, has had a mouth guard fitted and is being monitored in training, while Pulis is also optimistic forward Cameron Jerome will be fit for selection after an ankle injury kept him out of the Baggies contest.