Pulis targets top-half finish

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is targeting two wins and a draw from his side’s remaining Premier League games to secure a top-10 finish.

Pulis’ men have won their last two games to move onto 40 points and travel to relegation-threatened Sunderland on Monday, although the Welshman has warned his side that they are not safe just yet and is looking for a strong end to a campaign that has seen Stoke flirt with danger for much of its duration.

“We’ve got 40 points and good goal difference which is what we wanted,” he said. “Now is the time to push on. we have to do that because mathematically we’re still not safe.

“We need to get as many points as possible and it would be lovely to finish the season with a few more wins.

“If
we can win two of our last three and get a draw we could end up in the
top half of the Premier League, which would be a great season for us.”

Stoke will travel to Wearside with a number of fitness issues. Marc Wilson is struggling with a hamstring injury, while Pulis also cast doubt over Andy Wilkinson and Glenn Whelan’s availability for the trip to the Stadium of Light.

“Marc is still a concern for us and so are Andy and Glenn after they came off on Saturday,” he said.

“We’ve
got three people who we’re not sure of and we could certainly do with
one of the defenders being fit. Fingers crossed, but at the moment those
three are a concern.”