Charlie Adam still has Stoke City future, says Tony Pulis

MIDFIELD misfit Charlie Adam has been assured he still has a future at Stoke City – but may have to settle for a place among the substitutes again at Fulham today.

Adam, who scored one of his two goals for Stoke in the 1-0 home win over Fulham in November, has failed to even make the pitch in three of the club's last four fixtures.

But boss Tony Pulis denies there had been any attempt to lever the Scotsman out of the club before the end of his first season at the Britannia Stadium.

"At the moment we're quite happy with him," he stated.

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"We want him to stay and not go anywhere, but obviously he's had a difficult time in lots of respects."

Pulis admits the loss of his father just before Christmas has inevitably hit Adam hard.

"He's had a difficult period, without a question of doubt, with his father passing away. We'll look after him, there's no problems here," he added.

"It's very difficult if you lose a parent. That hangs around for quite a long period.

"Charlie was very close to his dad who used to come and watch all the games. It will have been a difficult period for him.

"But Charlie is Charlie. He is a bubbly character and good around the place. He comes in and gets on with it – and his training has been good."

Adam's regular absence from Stoke's starting 11 was bound to attract attention following his high-profile move from Liverpool at the end of the last August.

The 27-year-old Scotland international was seen as evidence of Stoke's desire to develop their playing style, but Adam has yet to fit snugly into the attacking midfield role detailed for him since his arrival at the Britannia.

Pulis, pictured, is refusing to question Adam's own form, attributing his failure to nail down a regular place to the form of others around him.

"There are not really any reasons for him not playing," he argued, "it's just the team are playing well.

"Whether I change it at all, I'm not sure, but I've got options with Cameron Jerome coming on and scoring goals, and Kenwyne Jones coming on and doing well.

" It's picking what the right team is to win the game. Worrying about who is on the bench or who is coming on never crosses my mind."

STOKE'S Premier League visit to Newcastle United is set to put back 24 hours to Sunday, April 10 because the Magpies will be in Europa League action on the preceding Thursday night.