Stoke vs Everton preview - Pulis: Players must stay alert

Posted Tuesday, May 01, 2012 by PA

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has urged his players to stay alert to the challenge as their lengthy season draws towards its conclusion.

The Potters have just three games remaining of a memorable campaign which has already included 53 fixtures and a run to the last 32 of the Europa League.

Everton are the season's penultimate visitors to the Britannia Stadium in the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday ahead of a trip to QPR and a home clash with Bolton. And after a creditable draw with Arsenal on Saturday, Pulis is pleased that his players are still fighting as they push for a top-half finish.

Pulis said: "It's been a long season but the players are still going. We've got a very difficult game here on Tuesday night. Everton, along with Arsenal, are one of the real form teams at the moment.

"We will have to be really on it to get anything out of it and then we finish with QPR and Bolton, both fighting for their lives. All the games left are against teams playing for something.

"In one respect it makes that difficult for us but in another respect it is a challenge we have to pick up. It is going to be a really tough finish for us."

Stoke are again likely to be without defender Andy Wilkinson (groin). The 27-year-old missed Saturday's draw against Arsenal but the club are hopeful he could return for the final two games of the campaign.

Pulis has hinted at giving Denmark's Thomas Sorensen a chance in goal before the end of the season to give him match practice ahead of Euro 2012.

Everton manager David Moyes hopes to be able to capitalise on any fatigue Stoke may display as his side look to end their disappointing run against the Potters.

The Toffees are unbeaten in their last six matches, having scored four times in each of their the last three league games, but in four fixtures against Tony Pulis' team they have found the net just once.

That has meant a return of just four points but with the campaign in its final throes Moyes wonders whether Stoke's Europa League exertions - Tuesday's match is their 54th of the campaign - may finally begin to tell.

"It has been a long old season," said the Scot, whose side's distant ambitions of European football were ended at the weekend despite beating Fulham.

"They have had a lot of games, they got through the group stage of the Europa League and they will be disappointed their league position is not further up.

"European football was a great achievement for them but it does take its toll when you are in the Thursday-Sunday scenario - but I would take it. I think nowadays it does [make a difference] because I think the players think about it the number of games they play."

Defender Leighton Baines will be missing. A hamstring injury has sidelined the left-back since the FA Cup semi-final and Moyes does not think he will be ready until next week.

Moyes reported a few "knocks and bruises" but he will more than likely select from the same squad which beat Fulham on Saturday.