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Published: Tuesday 02 Sep 2008
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City's £6 million men
Higgy aims to put controversy behind him

New City signing ready for Premier League assault

By Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE City’s new midfielder Tom Soares says the prospect of playing in front of full houses at the Britannia Stadium helped convince him to make the switch from Crystal Palace.

Soares has joined Stoke in a £1.5m deal, which could rise to £2m after Tony Pulis landed the 22-year-old and fellow midfielder Michael Tonge in the final hour of transfer deadline-day.

Soares only learned of City’s interest yesterday morning, and had little time to mull over the move after arriving at the Britannia Stadium four hours before the midnight deadline.

However, he recalled his previous visit to the ground, in April, when he scored Palace’s first goal in their 2-1 win.

There were only 15,756 there to see a televised Stoke defeat which threatened to derail City’s automatic play-off hopes. However, Soares says the atmosphere convinced him Stoke were a club capable of going places.

He said: “It is a brilliant place and the atmosphere was amazing. That definitely played a part for me because you want to be playing at big clubs. I am only 22 and I think this is a great move for myself.”

The former England under-21 international can play all across the midfield and has an eye for goal, having scored six for Palace last season.

He also has top-flight experience, having started 16 games for Palace in their Premier League campaign of 2004-2005.

He harbours hopes of winning a senior England cap, but knows he must first establish himself in the top flight.

He said: “If you keep working hard, you never know what happens.

“Playing in the Premier League before was amazing and I think I showed I could play there. I want to prove that point again.

“Everyone wants to be playing in the Premier League. I am just pleased to be here, now hopefully I can bring something to the club...and win us the league!”

Steady on. First Soares aims to establish himself in the side, a quest which will be helped by his versatility.

“I will be just pleased to be in the team,” he added. “I think I can bring more to the team playing in central midfield, but that is the manager’s decision.”

Pulis’s midfield options look a lot healthier now Soares and Tonge have arrived, even though City failed in a £6m bid for Cardiff left-winger Joe Ledley.

That blow has been considerably softened by the £2m capture of Tonge, who can play in
central midfield or on the left.

The 25-year-old made 302 appearances for the Blades after he was released by home-town club Manchester United as a schoolboy.

The former England under-21 international, who has signed a four-year deal, looks to have been earmarked for the left-wing role he has filled with success for the Blades.

He, too, has experience in the Premier League, having started 23 games for the Blades in their 2006-2007 top-flight campaign.

The move revives memories of another left sider, Peter Beagrie, who became a huge success with the Potters after signing from Sheffield United for a more modest £210,000, some 20 years ago.

Tonge’s £2m fee takes Stoke’s summer spending to around £19m on 10 players, but manager Tony Pulis believes the investment is money well spent.

He added: “Berbatov has gone for about £28m in one deal. We are competing now against clubs who have spent £28m and £33m on one player. Putting things into perspective, we have done some good deals at this football club.”