TONY PULIS welcomed back three key players . . . but was without Republic of Ireland international Liam Lawrence for this afternoon's live televised match against Wigan Athletic at the Britannia Stadium.
Highly-rated defender Ryan Shawcross was fit-again following a groin injury and replaced Danny Collins in the back four, with Andy Wilkinson expected to switch to left back and Robert Huth lining up in the right back spot.
Midfielder Dean Whitehead returned from a one-match suspension to replace the unwell Lawrence, while striker Ricardo Fuller was preferred to Mamady Sidibe up front and partnered Tuncay in the Potters attack.
James Beattie had recovered from his knee problem and was named among City's substitutes along with Sidibe.
Wigan were boosted by the fact that goalkeeper Chris Kirkland passed a late fitness test on his back injury and Jason Koumas was back in action.
CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Wilkinson; Delap, Whitehead, Diao, Etherington; Fuller, Tuncay. Subs: Simonsen, Whelan, Higginbotham, Beattie, Sidibe, Collins, Pugh.
WIGAN (4-5-1): Kirkland; Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Diame; N'Zogbia, Scharner, Koumas, Gomez, Figueroa; Rodallega. Subs: Amaya, Cho, Scotland, Sinclair, Ridder, Kingson, McCarthy.
REFEREE: Mike Dean
