Potters boss seeking new talent

Pulis and his staff have found it tough to add to the squad which gained promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last season, but the Stoke boss said negotiations were ongoing with a number of players to build on the arrival of Dave Kitson, Seyi Olofinjana and Thomas Sorensen.

And Pulis is considering casting his net wider than ever before, saying: "We are hoping to bring in a couple of players in time for Saturday. We know we have to add more quality to the squad and we are working very, very hard to do that."

He added: "The British market is incredibly difficult to work in because the fees for players and their wages are excessive. What we do need to do as a club is increase our scouting network abroad.

"Clubs who are established in the Premier League already have that in place, but we are one of the new boys and that is an area we will definitely have to improve on."

Pulis has been disappointed with the reluctance of some of his transfer targets to move from bigger clubs to the Potteries, although he accepts that as "part and parcel" in the modern game.

He added: "A lot of players enjoy being around bigger clubs, even if they aren't in the team.

"They enjoy the kudos and everything else that goes with it and don't fancy a battle at a club like Stoke.

"That is one of the reasons we have to be very careful to attract the right players and right characters.

"The tremendous spirit in our dressing room was a major factor in getting us promoted and there is no way we want to compromise that."