Stoke on brink of ‘a great achievement’ says Tony Pulis

Since returning to European football for the first time in 35 years courtesy of their run to the FA Cup final last season, the Potters have won seven of their eight matches.

The only time they did not take maximum points was the away trip to Kiev at the start of the group stage, but they came within minutes of doing so, only for Ognjen Vukojevic to score a late equaliser.

Stoke sit four points clear at the top of Group E but, with a trip to Istanbul to face Besiktas to come in their final match, Pulis knows securing a draw at the Britannia Stadium is key.

He said: “I looked at it as a group that was going to be extremely difficult. If you look at the three teams that we pulled, they’ve got unbelievable European experience.

“If we can get through Thursday’s game, we’re qualified, so it’s a massive game. We’re hoping we get a full house and that the crowd will come along and really push us on to what would be a great achievement for us.”

Kiev have played almost 300 European games compared to Stoke’s 12 but they do not tend to travel well. Of the 10 previous matches they have played in England, their only point came from a trip to Arsenal in 1998/99.

Pulis said of their trip to Ukraine: “It was a great performance and a great experience for us all. But they’re unbeaten, they are top of their league. We know that it’s going to be a very tough game. They’ve got some exceptionally good players, very good technically. This will be as tough a game as Besiktas was here, and that was a tough game for us.”

Pulis will again name a strong side, with Andy Wilkinson the only injury doubt. Cameron Jerome returns after serving a one-game European ban.