Pulis - Salif Diao doing terrficccc

[stokecityscott]

Salif Diao is on course for a New Year return to Stoke's first team after impressing in his first few fitness sessions at the Britannia Stadium.

The 30-year-old midfield has spent the past week playing catch-up on his fitness after finally putting pen to paper on an 18-month contract at Stoke.

And manager Tony Pulis is delighted with the progress made over the last seven days with the club's fitness coach.

"He will need a couple of weeks of strengthening," says his manager, "then once he's strong I want him in and around the team, even if that means he only has 20 minutes or half-an-hour first.

"We are really pleased with his progress so far. He's a really good professional and he'll get the work done."

Pulis also revealed how he doorstepped Diao and his family during the long courtship between his last game at the end of last season and his final decision to return for a third spell.

"We've worked hard on Salif and been up to his house in the north west a couple of times to have a meal with his wife Emily and youngster Milan.

"We've kept nagging away at him and he sees he's coming to a club that understands him and wants him.

"He's a supreme athlete and you just have to keep encouraging him when he has concerns over his body."

* Stoke will be backed by a maximum 1,900 at Blackpool tomorrow afternoon after City fans snapped up all away tickets for the Bloomfield Road clash.

[Top Stopper]

Well done Tone, hats off to your man management.

Hope he didn't have to tell Emily her spuds were arrrrrdddd! ;D