Pulis confesses Beattie doubts

Beattie: Not yet at 100 per cent

Stoke manager Tony Pulis admits that James Beattie is not yet at full fitness and is unlikely to return to action against Wolves this weekend.

Beattie underwent knee surgery two months ago and has not played since in a rehabilitation programme which could have ended his season.

It was speculated that the striker, who suffered a bust-up with Pulis at Christmas, had played his last game for Stoke as it is rumoured he will be sold in the summer.

Pulis, though, remains keen to involve the 32-year-old as the Potters prepare for Sunday's Premier League trip to Wolves because Ricardo Fuller is not 100 per cent.

But the Stoke boss confesses that Beattie is battling for fitness, saying: "He played in a reserve game on Tuesday and looked a little bit short to be honest.

"The lad Louis Moult has been on the bench. If Ric is not fit I will most probably go with Louis.

"He has done really well and scored a lot of goals in the reserves and did well again the other night."