I’M BEGINNING to think Tony Pulis reads this column after I mentioned Danny Pugh as a possible starter at Newcastle.

Then lo and behold, Pugh is plucked from obscurity and given his first taste of Premier League action this season.

Mind you, even if Tony did happen to read this, we all know he has a mind of his own and can often produce that stubborn streak all managers need.

Tony has got it right far more often than not at the Britannia Stadium this season when you look at Stoke’s tremendous record on home soil.

And the reason for that is the fact he hasn’t been afraid to make changes and go horses for courses with regards to the opposition.

It will be interesting, therefore, to see if he keeps faith with Pugh and Glenn Whelan after they made their mark in that terrific 2-2 draw last Saturday.

I understand they both impressed and we know what they bring to the table. Pugh gives the team balance with that trusty left foot of his, while he can also tackle and chip in with a goal now and then.

Whelan is a decent passer of the ball, someone happy to sit in there and direct operations with a bit of quality.

But Tony may yet revert back to a bit of midfield strength tomorrow because he knows Fulham’s midfield lacks a bit of physicality.

The likes of Danny Murphy and Jimmy Bullard are good footballers, but they do look a bit lightweight physically.

So there are some interesting decisions to be made, but Tony has the nice problem of several players pushing for a start.

I hear Rory Delap might not be fully fit after suffering with an arm injury this week – and no wonder after all those throws.

There were a few rumbles at Newcastle that he was looking a little jaded, I hear, so now might be the time to give him a break. But I’d definitely have him in there, fitness permitting, because those throws are so deadly at the Brit because of the crowd and the narrow pitch.

That draw at Newcastle will have done wonders for everyone’s confidence after coming back from two down to gain a draw.

Going two down in the Premier League will always have you worried, but they showed great resilience and flair in coming back from the dead.

Fulham will be a tough nut to crack defensively because their record suggests as much.
I’m assuming Ricardo Fuller will be back in the starting line-up after stepping off the bench to inspire events at St James’ Park.

He and Stoke will have their work cut out, however, because Fulham have looked solid at the back and certainly look strong in the air with the big Norwegian centre-half Brede Hangeland, while Mark Schwarzer is a big fella in goal and is never afraid to come off his line to take control of events.

Fulham haven’t exactly been banging the goals in, especially away from home, but I wouldn’t under-estimate a forward line of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora.

Johnson will live on the last defender’s shoulder and look to get in behind you with his pace, while Zamora is happy to hold the ball up and bring others into play.

So you’ve got one coming short and one going long to try to stretch Stoke’s defence and leave gaps for the likes of Bullard to come into.

That’s something Stoke must watch, but hopefully they’ll have won that midfield battle to stop that happening ... whoever Tony decides to put in there.