Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes Ryan Shawcross can still win a place in Fabio Capello's England squad for next summer's World Cup.

The club today announced that they are close to agreeing a new long-term deal with Shawcross, who completed a permanent move from Manchester United to the Britannia Stadium in January 2008 after an impressive six-month loan spell.

Since then, the 22-year-old has emerged as one of Stoke's most consistent performers and has been capped by Stuart Pearce for England Under-21s.

Pulis is confident Shawcross is destined for a call-up to the senior national side and thinks it could even happen in time for South Africa 2010.

Asked if he thought the defender could yet earn a place in Capello's World Cup squad, Pulis said: "I still think he has a great chance, an outstanding chance if he keeps playing the way he is playing.

"Capello picks the team and he has enough experience without me telling him what he wants and what he doesn't want.

"But Stuart has been here a few times and he has been impressed with Ryan."

Pulis was delighted that Shawcross had decided to commit his future to the Potters after the centre-back was linked with several clubs during the summer.

"He's done exceptionally well and it's no surprise to me that lots and lots of people are talking about him," Pulis said.

"Ryan is hopefully concluding the deal this weekend so we are absolutely delighted.

"He has been a very, very good signing for us and we see him as part of the future of our football club.

"We are looking to grow and push on and in order to do that you have to hold onto your best players, particularly your best young players."

Stoke travel to Hull in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday coming off the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against Wolves last weekend.

The Potters let a two-goal lead slip in one of the few glitches in their season so far, and Pulis hopes his players have learned there is absolutely no room for complacency at the highest level.

"It was a reminder that this league is one of the toughest, if not the toughest league in the world," Pulis said.

"If you take your foot off the pedal even in the slightest, you'll get your backside kicked.
"We were disappointed with the first goal - it was a poor decision by the officials. It gave Wolves a lift and knocked us back a bit.

"But we have had a good start and hopefully we will learn by it by becoming a bit more resilient."

Stoke have picked up where they left off last season and currently lie ninth in the table after finishing an impressive 12th in their debut Premier League campaign.

It makes for a stark contrast to Hull, who were promoted from the Championship the same year as the Potters but narrowly avoided relegation last term and are now struggling in 19th position.

The Tigers have won only three times in the league in the whole of 2009 but Pulis is taking nothing for granted and refuses to look beyond the match on Sunday.

"We are hoping to go to Hull on Sunday, put a performance in and bring the three points back home on the bus," Pulis said.

"We are not even thinking about further down the line, the Hull game is difficult enough. We have to put all our energies and thoughts into that one game because we know how tough that will be."

It has been a turbulent time of late for Hull and Pulis is thankful for the stability he enjoys at the Britannia Stadium, where the sponsors today announced a new four-year extension to their shirt deal with the club.

"I can't talk about Hull, but I can say what a great job everybody at this football club has done - how supportive they have been on the terraces, right through to the board of directors," Pulis said.

"At the top of the club there is the chairman and then you look at the supporters that come in week in, week out.

"They have been together - everything has been united and that is why we have taken it on from last year. It's lovely to have stability.

"I'm very pleased and honoured to be the manager of Stoke City and all I care about is this football club.

"I eat, sleep and drink it and it doesn't really worry me what goes on at other football clubs."