Pulis demands Gudjohnsen plays catch-up

New Stoke signings Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jermaine Pennant and Marc Wilson have been told by manager Tony Pulis they have to pull their weight or they will be spending plenty of time on the sidelines.

The trio were brought in on transfer deadline day and Pulis has admitted they are slightly behind their colleagues in terms of their fitness.

All three are expected to be in the squad for tonight's Premier League visit of Aston Villa, but Pulis said: "We need Eidur, Jermaine and Marc to throw off the shackles of individuality."

Villa's caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald will check on the fitness of Stephen Ireland (hamstring) before finalising his side.