TONY PULIS is confident that Stoke City's patience will be rewarded when they see the best of £5 million signing Tuncay very soon.

City's manager admits that it has been frustrating that the captain of Turkey's national team hasn't made an immediate impact at the Britannia Stadium following his move from Middlesbrough shortly before the transfer deadline.

But Pulis stressed that circumstances haven't helped Tuncay who will head off for another international break on Sunday.

"It's not been an easy situation because he went off for two weeks on international duty shortly after he signed and he's off again for another two weeks on Sunday, which is not ideal when you are trying to bed a player in," he said.

"We're desperately, desperately keen to get him as sharp and as match fit as we can. I think he would be the first to admit that he is not right on it at the moment, but we'll be patient with him because he has got real quality."

He added: "He's a great lad, absolutely fantastic. He's got a great attitude and I am sure he will be an excellent signing for this club.

"His persona around the place is first class. I spoke to a lot of people when I signed him and they all said the same thing . . . he's got this air about him."

Pulis believes that the situation hasn't been helped by the fitness problems suffered by Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie.

"It has been an unsettled period and that makes it difficult when you are trying to be someone in. We want to get them working together and get them used to each other, but that hasn't been easy in the circumstances," he said.

Fuller is a doubt for Sunday's trip to Everton, with Pulis expected to make a late decision on whether he is available following a groin injury.

But Beattie is fit to play against his former club after making a full recovery from the ankle injury that has troubled him recently.