TONY PULIS has revealed that an ankle injury may put the return of Ryan Shawcross from a three-match suspension on hold as Stoke City prepare for the visit of Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur to the Britannia Stadium.
City's manager is waiting to discover the full extent of a knock which the England defender picked up in training this week before he decides whether to recall him to the starting line-up for the Premier League meeting with Harry Redknapp's side.
Shawcross is available again after serving a three match suspension for the red card he received in last month's home defeat to Arsenal.
"If Ryan is okay, then it gives me a problem, but it's a nice problem," said Pulis. "So we will have to see how his ankle is over the next couple of days.
"He is fine as far as the Arsenal business is concerned. He's got an old head on young shoulders and has dealt with the whole situation pretty well.
"Ryan has also been well looked after by everyone at the Club and I know that the call which he received from Sir Alex Ferguson was very helpful, so I am confident that he can put all that behind him and get back to playing again."
He added: "I was undecided anyway whether to bring Ryan straight back in as there is strong competition for places in the back four, and in all fairness to the guys who played against Aston Villa they did well in keeping out a very good side."
