Stoke City: No bad feeling towards Chelsea's David Luiz, says Jon Walters

JON Walters says he doesn't hold a grudge against David Luiz after the Brazilian's potential "leg-breaking" challenge at Chelsea.

Walters has a four-inch scar above his right ankle where Luiz caught him in the dying stages of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Walters was furious at the time and had to be restrained by John Terry as he tried to square up to Luiz.

But he insists he has now cooled down and is definitely available for Saturday's visit of Swansea City.

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"I was angry, but I have been angrier," said Walters. "I think I've reined it in a bit over the years.

"I think he tried to apologise afterwards, but didn't get the chance.

"There isn't a grudge as far as I'm concerned. These things happen in football and you just have to get on with it. The main thing is I am fit for Saturday."

Stoke boss Tony Pulis described the Luiz challenge as a "leg-breaker" and criticised the rules which mean the Chelsea defender cannot be retrospectively punished because he was booked at the time by referee Michael Oliver.

Walters also drew comparisons with Andy Wilkinson's retrospective three-match ban four days earlier after cameras caught him raising an arm to Mario Balotelli in the game against Manchester City.

"It's not nice seeing anybody sent off," said Walters.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's the ref's decision. So if he (Luiz) doesn't get sent off, he doesn't get sent off.

"But I do think we have got to have more consistency. With Andy, probably nothing much happened, but it gets reported and then he gets pulled up after."

At least Walters drew consolation from a Stoke performance he believes deserved better than a late 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

"I thought that as a team we played well. It's obviously disappointing to keep it 0-0 for so long and lose, and with the chances we had we could have nicked it," he explained.

"Once we got a pass off, we seem to have three or four of us going forward and the boys are really encouraged by the way we are playing.

"Hopefully we can get that first win against Swansea on Saturday."

Stoke's former Glasgow Rangers duo Maurice Edu and Jamie Ness were among a clutch of senior players appearing in the first half of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Huddersfield Town at the Clayton Wood training ground yesterday.

"They may have been forgotten by others, but not by us," assistant manager Dave Kemp stressed.

"The timing of Maurice's arrival here was unfortunate because he was wanted by America and also had his Visa to sort out.

"Jamie did get his chance against Swindon, but unfortunately got injured that night.

"Both travelled with us to Chelsea at the weekend and I'm sure their time will come."

Rory Delap and Jermaine Pennant were Stoke's goalscorers in the 2-2 draw against the Championship side.