Ryan Shawcross: I want to stay at Stoke

Not even interest from the Premier League’s elite will stop Ryan Shawcross signing a new six-year deal at Stoke City.

The defender has emerged as a possible target for Tottenham and Manchester United, where Shawcross came through the ranks before signing for Stoke.

Despite that, the 25 year-old is eager to put pen to paper with Stoke, admitting he owes a debt of gratitude to Pulis, who has helped inspire his rise from United’s third team to England international.

“The main reason I want to stay is the gaffer,” he said. “He’s been great to me throughout my time here and made me captain at a young age.

“I’ve told him I want to stay here. I feel like he’s improved me every year – and he got me into the England squad because that’s been a goal of mine.

“It showed that a Stoke player can get into the England squad, because that’s been an issue.

“But I’ve been in the last couple of squads now so that shows I’m playing well and I can get in there. Would I look to go, even if a top four club came in? No.”

Shawcross was outstanding once again. That Steven Reid’s free-kick from inside his own half was about as close as West Bromwich Albion came to scoring was testament to that.

Chances were at an absolute premium, yet Stoke took theirs when Dean Whitehead turned home fellow substitute Michael Kightly’s cross with 15 minutes remaining to maintain their 100 per cent Premier League record at the Hawthorns and secure Stoke’s first top-flight away win since January.

While it was a third win in eight days for the Potteries club, Albion have lost back-to-back games, leaving them fifth.

Steve Clarke, their head coach, boldly made six changes to his side but his squad failed to convince they can stay there. “We’re disappointed as we lost but we have a chance to pick up points in our next game,” midfielder Zoltan Gera said. “We have Arsenal next and it will be easier for us to play them than Stoke.”

Clarke revealed there is money available if West Brom feel they need to bolster their squad next month. “We have spoken about what we might need to do in January,” he said.

“If the chairman Jeremy Peace, technical director Dan Ashworth and I decide we need to strengthen the squad, then we can do that.”

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Source: Telegraph