Stoke City: Cameron Jerome may get start he craves at QPR

STOKE City striker Cameron Jerome will not be in hot water with his boss for that after-match groan about a lack of opportunities earlier this week.

And he may even be rewarded for Tuesday’s impressive equaliser against Everton with a rare start at Loftus Road tomorrow (2pm).

Jerome followed up that goal with a whinge about the fact he has only started six Premier League games since his £4m move from Birmingham last August.

That compares with 15 appearances from the bench in the top flight during his debut season.

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Cue an angry backlash from Tony Pulis for an apparent breaking of the ranks, then?

“I would be disappointed if they weren’t disappointed,” said Pulis.

“He’s as good as gold. He works his socks off and he’s got a right to his opinion. He wants to play, but everybody wants to play, and rightly so. But (Peter)

Crouch and (Jon) Walters have done well this year and been my preferred two.

“You have to pick it as you see it. I’m sure there’s a million other people who pick it different after the game and you have to accept that.”

And on the subject of Walters, he added: “Jon is a top player and a great lad as well. If you speak to most of the players, Jon would be top of their list to play because he is such an unselfish player. You’d want to go to war with Jon.”

Pulis says Jerome isn’t the only Stoke player unhappy about failing to make the starting 11 in his ever-expanding squad.

“He’s been disappointed, along with quite a few of the others because they haven’t started,” he explained.

“He’d want to play every game, and rightly so. They all want to be a part of every game – that’s what you want from players.

“But people have got to recognise that it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team.”

Pulis denies Jerome is his super-sub, but evidently prefers him as an impact player from the bench to exploit tiring legs with his pace and power.

And his goal record shows three league goals from the substitutes’ bench, but just one when in the starting line-up.

Pulis observed: “He’s been brilliant when he’s played... when he’s come on, more so than when he’s started.

“Some games he’s started he hasn’t done so well and he hasn’t talked about them, but that’s the way players are.”

Jerome’s eighth goal for the club in midweek was a lesson in power and pace after running through Everton’s centre-halves before seeing his shot deflected past Tim Howard.

“He came on, scored a really good goal and looked bright,” added Pulis.

“He had a little bit of good fortune with his goal, but he deserved it for his determination and drive. He drove past two players who are very, very quick.”