TONY PULIS made two changes for Stoke City’s Barclays Premier League meeting with Queens Park Rangers at the Britannia Stadium . . . recalling Glenn Whelan and Matthew Etherington.
Republic of Ireland international Whelan returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a hamstring injury and took the place of Dean Whitehead in the middle of the park.
While Etherington was rewarded for some impressive cameo performances as a substitute with a recall at the expense of Michael Kightly, who dropped down to the substitutes’ bench.
Andy Wilkinson had overcome a knock to continue at left back where he is currently deputising for long term injury victim Marc Wilson after he suffered a broken leg in the last home match.
There was still no Michael Owen among the substitutes, as he battles his way back from a hamstring strain, so Cameron Jerome was once again included as one of the attacking options on the bench.
QPR were without their injured skipper Park Ji-Sung, but they were boosted by the fact that experienced defender Ryan Nelsen passed a fitness test to take his place at the back.
City: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Walters, Adam, Nzonzi, Whelan, Etherington; Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Whitehead, Upson, Kightly, Jerome.
Queens Park Rangers: Cesar; Bosingwa, Ferdinand, Nelsen, Traore; Hoilett, Faurlin, Taarabt, Granero, Diakite; Cisse. Subs: Green, Derry, Hill, Wright-Phillips, Mackie, Onuhoa, Zamora.
Referee: M. Atkinson