Late Fitness Tests for Stoke City Duo

Robert Huth

Tony Pulis has revealed that Stoke City will make a last-minute call on the fitness of key pair Matthew Etherington and Robert Huth as they battle to recover from injury in time to feature in the FA Cup Final on Saturday. Pulis has reported that both players are making steady progress and stand a chance of making it back in time to play at Wembley. 

Etherington's place in the Final was thrown into doubt when he damaged a hamstring in the Staffordshire derby against Wolverhampton Wanderers , while Huth suffered a knee ligament injury in the Arsenal game on Sunday.

"The two of them are now doing some light training, but it will go right to the wire, so we will make a last-minute call," said Pulis."They're both desperate to play and they're doing everything they can to get fit, but we will have to make a decision that is right for the team and indeed right for them. It will be a tough call, but we'll give them every chance."

"That means they will have a fitness test sometime before the match, either at the hotel or when we get to Wembley Stadium. So that decision will probably be made at two o'clock just before the team sheet has to be put in."He added: "

We said two weeks ago that we'd make a late call on Matty and he has made steady progress since then."

"It's now a matter of building up the strength in the hamstring, but the medical and fitness team we have here are doing a magnificent job to get him right, and they'll obviously have a big say in whether it's right for him to play."

"The same can be said of Huthy. He spent two days in Spain earlier this week having injections which should help to speed up his recovery and he's reported that his knee feels easier. But it's still too early to make a judgement."