Pulis delighted by Shea arrival

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has confirmed the formalities of Brek Shea’s 2.5-million pound move from FC Dallas have been completed.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Britannia Stadium having seen work permit and visa applications approved over the past week.

And Pulis is delighted the United States international is available to feature in Saturday’s meeting with Reading.

“He should be in today so that will make him available for Saturday, but we will need to assess him and see what the situation is with him,” he told reporters.

“He had to go back to the US to get his permit and visa sorted, which isn’t ideal, but we are expecting him back in today for training which is good news.

“We would like him to be fit and ready to go, but we will have to have a look at him, just as we will with a few of the other lads who have been away on international duty.”

Despite the availability of the American, Pulis bemoaned the fact that the likes of Jon Walters, Charlie Adam and Kenwyne Jones have been away from the club this week due to international commitments.

“It’s frustrating because we have had a busy Christmas and New Year period, we’ve had a few midweek games and the transfer window, and when all of that is finally cleared up, players have to go off flying all around the world,” Pulis said.

“It’s not ideal, but we have to just get on with it. It would have been nice to have had them here this week, getting them ready for the game, but we will just have to see what sort of condition they are in over the next 24 hours.”