Michael Owen and Rory Delap missing for Stoke as QPR come to visit

2. Let’s hope canny Pulis gets the best out of Owen Michael Owen’s arrival at Stoke is intriguing for many reasons. It is further evidence that Tony Pulis, that canny operator, is changing his team’s style. It is confirmation of Stoke’s status as an (PA)

Stoke will be without midfielder Rory Delap and striker Michael Owen for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with QPR at the Britannia Stadium.

Delap is due to undergo a hernia operation next week, while Owen is out with a hamstring injury that saw him miss last week's 1-0 defeat at Norwich, although he should be fit for next weekend's game at West Ham.

Delap and Owen join Marc Wilson on the sidelines, the defender likely to be unavailable until February after recently fracturing his left fibula.

Provisional squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron, Upson, Shotton, Whelan, Etherington, Palacios, Jones, Jerome, Crouch, Walters, Kightly, Whitehead, Adam, Edu, Nzonzi, Ness, Wilkinson.

PA