Stoke City: Eidur Gudjohnsen and Salif Diao set for tough time

EIDUR Gudjohnsen has a dozen days to prove he is fit enough to line up for his Stoke debut against Aston Villa on Monday week, writes Martin Spinks.

The Iceland international striker will undergo a rigorous training schedule to ensure he is fit for purpose physically following this week's move from Monaco.

QUESTION TIME: Stoke's Eidur Gudjohnsen explains his decision to join the Potters during a press conference yesterday. Below: Gudjohnsen gets to know his team-mates Salif Diao, left, and Abdoulaye Faye during a training session at their Clayton Wood training complex. Pictures: Malcolm Hart

And midfielder Salif Diao, fresh from rejoining the club on a two-year contract as a player/ambassdor, will be sweating alongside Gudjohnsen after missing pre- season.

"In the next 12 days Eidur will do a mini pre-season with Salif and we hope he'll be available for Aston Villa," said manager Tony Pulis, fresh from cracking the whip on Gudjohnsen's first full day at Stoke.

"Whether he starts or is on the bench, that will be determined by how well he works over the next 12 days."

But while Pulis may have doubts over his new signing's present fitness, he has none over the 31-year-old's character and pedigree after a career encompassing the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Barcelona.

"To have played where he's played and have the record he's got speaks volumes for the lad and his character," added Pulis.

And he is hoping Jermaine Pennant will provide similar – if quicker – quality after meeting the former Arsenal and Liverpool winger for the first time yesterday following his four-month loan move from Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza.

"Yes, we're looking for them to come in and make an impact," said Pulis.

"But they've got to come in with the same attitude as the rest of the players.

"And with that bit of quality, we hope they'll make us a better team."

Pulis, who first made inquiries about Pennant some three months ago, insists both deals have been financially weighted in Stoke's favour so as to preserve the club's present wage structure.

"We spoke at the start of pre-season, but it was a difficult deal to do. But as we got closer and closer to the deadline it became more viable for us.

"We've worked very hard with the agent to make sure he comes in on our terms and on the money we can afford.

"Both his club (Zaragoza) and Monaco have been very, very helpful in respect of helping these deals through."

STOKE'S 18-year-old striker Ben Marshall has returned to Carlisle on loan until January 3.

Marshall, who also spent spells on loan at Northampton and Cheltenham last season, scored three goals in 11 league starts and nine substitute appearances for Carlisle after joining on loan in February.