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Published: Wednesday 19 Nov 2008
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City skipper concerned about losing leading scorer

by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE skipper Andy Griffin has confessed to having mixed feelings over Ricardo Fuller’s make-or-break bid for World Cup glory.

The Potters’ top scorer turns out for Jamaica tonight in a must-win home game against Canada if he is to keep alive his dream of reaching the 2010 finals in South Africa.

But success against the Canadians must also be coupled with a Honduran defeat at the hands of Sven Goran Ericksson’s already-qualified Mexico if Jamaica are to progress to a further six-nation qualification group.

And that would mean another 10 competitive internationals for Jamaica and Fuller over the next 12 months, further disrupting Stoke’s bid for Premier League survival.

“I have mixed feelings for Ricardo,” admitted Griffin. “It would be great for Ricardo and Jamaica to progress to the next stage. And how fantastic if they went all the way to the finals in South Africa.

“But the flip side of that coin is the fact we would risk losing him for those 10 qualifying games and he’s a pivotal part of this team.

“He’s the only one getting the goals at the moment and so, if I’m selfishly thinking about myself and Stoke City, to not lose him for those 10 games would obviously benefit us.”

“But all this is part and parcel of international football, of course, and we could have similar problems here at Stoke in just over a year from now when the African Nations’ Cup comes round.”

Fuller need not rush back to England from his latest long-haul assignment for Jamaica because last Saturday’s booking at Old Trafford leaves him suspended for this weekend’s visit of West Bromwich Albion.

“With him already sitting on four bookings,” said Griffin, “I suppose it could be a blessing in disguise if he gets the suspension out of the way this week when he’s got all the travelling. But only if we go on to win the game.

“There will also be those looking at his recent record against West Brom (four goals in three games) and thinking we would want him in the side come what may this weekend.

“Albion might take his absence as a positive, therefore, just like we would if someone like Robinho was missing against Manchester City. But for us this Saturday it’s a case of being professional and getting on with it.”

And he is confident the timing is right for Dave Kitson as he stands by to step into the breach for his first league start in seven games this weekend.

“This is obviously a chance for Kits,” says Griffin, “and you can tell he’s chomping at the bit. It’s just a matter of time before he scores that first goal.”

I think Dave has his own high standards and I know how good a footballer he is.

“He’s got a good brain and did well for Reading. It’s just a matter of time before he scores his first goal. He might get the luckiest goal in football history and then go on to score many more.”

STOKE do not appear to be as close to launching another attempt to sign
winger Haminu Dramani as the Ghanaian himself seems to believe.

The 22 year-old Lokomotiv Moscow player is reported to be a January target for Stoke boss Tony Pulis, but City’s hierarchy are weighing up several other options ahead of the transfer window.

The Ghana star is quoted as saying: "You all know my dream is to play in the Premier League, but I believe the clubs want to do business quietly.

"I am very patient, hopefully my dream will be realised sooner than later. God is in control."

But City’s hierarchy are currently weighing up several other options ahead of the January transfer window.

Draminu came close to joining City in August after training with the first-team shortly before the start of the season.
But Lokmotiv pulled the plug on any move until the conclusion of the Russian domestic season at the end of this month.
Dramani, who measures in at just 5ft 8ins and played and scored in the 2006 World Cup, is less than half-way through a four-year contract after joining Lokomotiv for £3m from Turkish outfit Genclerbirligi.