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

TONY Pulis has revealed for the first time that he wants to supplement his strike force with more pace to add greater firepower to Stoke’s Premier League attack.

Ricardo Fuller returned today for pre-season training after an extended break because of international commitments, but Pulis wants more than just the Jamaican’hiss turn of speed at his disposal next season.

Fuller’s absence meant James Beattie and Dave Kitson being paired together at Preston on Saturday, but Pulis observed: “They are very similar players and we could have done with Ric, or someone with pace alongside them, and I’m looking to change that.

“Ric is coming back, but I’m looking for another one if we can. We want someone who’s going to threaten in behind and do things.

“We are a few players short, but we are working on it.”

Pulis still applauded Kitson’s contribution in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Preston, however, observing: “He’s doing well and some of our link-up play was very good. And Beats is an experienced pro who looks as though he’s going to be in a good position.”

Pulis was also satisfied with Dean Whitehead after securing his registration in time to throw him in for what was his Stoke debut and his first pre-season friendly of the summer.

“He did smashing considering he doesn’t know the way we play,” he said.

“Obviously he’s disappointed he missed a point-blank chance to score, but hopefully he’ll get the goals when it really matters.”

Stoke, for whom Richard Cresswell headed a late consolation, were made to pay for defensive lapses at one end and their failure to take their chances at the other.

“Defensively, the two goals we conceded were disappointing. I think he (Thomas Sorensen) will be disappointed with the goals.

“We created great chances like Liam Lawrence’s penalty miss, but I would much prefer Liam to be missing them now than at the start of the season.

“The result is not important, it’s people’s performance and effort that matter at this stage.

“We are working the players hard in training and not resting them up before these friendly games, so they are still a bit leggy.”

Stoke are continuing to monitor skipper Abdoulaye Faye after an injury in training on Friday left him on the sidelines at Deepdale the next day.

He remains highly doubtful for Wednesday’s trip to Nottingham Forest (7.45pm), but the diagnosis may not be as bad as first feared when he hobbled out of the training ground on crutches.

“There’s no tears or muscular injuries,” Pulis reported.

“But he really shook up the hip, so we’ll go steady with him for the next few days.”