Stoke determined to sign more players

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is determined to freshen up his squad before the transfer window closes.

Pulis believes he needs to increase the competition for places in this the club's second season in the top flight.

A striker could be a priority given that James Beattie suffered a knee injury at the weekend and will sit out the Carling Cup match against Leyton Orient tomorrow.

Pulis said: "Everyone wants to see a new signing, the supporters and the players.

"They are looking for a little bit of help. To bring a couple in to liven things up would be fantastic."

Pulis is already in the process of trying to reorganise his backroom staff with Peter Reid earmarked to become his right-hand man.

Reid has contradicted reports from the Football Association of Thailand and indicated he is about to join Stoke.

The former Sunderland manager was in the stands on Saturday at Birmingham as Stoke drew 0-0 and told the Sentinel: "It will be great to be back in English football and at the top level.

"I cannot wait to work with a true football man like Tony. We haven't worked together before, but we have spoken plenty of times over the years about players and what have you.

"His record here is fantastic and I just hope I can play a small part in helping him continue the work done during an absolutely brilliant two years for Stoke."

FAT president Worawi Makudi had expressed his confidence in the Bangkok Post that Reid would remain as coach.

Worawi said: "He told me he will not let our players down and promised that he will guide the Thai national team to success. I would like Thai fans to feel relaxed about Reid staying with us."

With a home game against Sunderland to come on Saturday, Pulis will give some of his fringe players a run-out in the second-round cup match at Brisbane Road.

He said: "We will be going there to win the game because we would like a good cup run.

"But it will be a different team to the one that played at Birmingham on Saturday because the last thing I want is my players returning from east London at three or four o'clock on Thursday morning when we have a big game on Saturday."