Leon Cort has urged Tony Pulis to clarify whether he is in his plans for the upcoming season.
Potters defender wants clarification from Pulis
Leon Cort has urged Stoke manager Tony Pulis to clarify whether he is in his plans for the upcoming season.
The defender spent long periods on the sidelines last term, making just nine Premier League starts, as Pulis preferred the centre-back pairing of Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye.
With reports suggesting that the Potters boss is scouring the market for another defender this summer the 29-year-old could find himself further down the pecking order ahead of the new season.
The situation is a far cry from when Cort played a pivotal role in helping the club to promotion to the Premier League just over a year ago having racked up 33 league games, scoring eight goals in the process.
However, the former Crystal Palace man understands that if the Potters are to secure their top flight status for another season competition for places is a must.
"I don't really know much at the minute, so all I can do is come back to pre-season, work hard and take it from there," he told
The Sentinel.
"The lads are out to do even better than last season. It will be tough because it is always harder for clubs in their second year, but we have a great set of lads at the club.
Competition
"I would like to play a part in that. I don't like to just be playing the odd game, but at this level, there is a lot of competition at every club.
"But if I am not in the manager's plans, I would like to know as soon as possible."
Despite struggling to command a regular place at the Britannia Stadium last time out Cort insists he can have no complaints about the two men blocking his path to the first-team.
"Ryan and Abdoulaye have done really well when they play together," he added.
"Me and (Ibrahima) Sonko have been frustrated on the sidelines, but it is out of our hands. There's no use crying and sulking about it.
"And no, I wasn't tempted to injure Ryan and Abdoulaye in training. I like Ryan and I'm not going to kick Abdoulaye, I don't want to die," he joked.
Cort also highlighted that if he were to leave Stoke this summer he would have only fond memories of his time in the Potteries.
"It has been fantastic at Stoke," he enthused. "I have learned a lot from the people coaching me and also from the other players.
"If I do leave in the next couple of months, I will have had a great time here."
