Eidurs thirsty for first Potters start

Stoke striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is eager to get his first start for the club in tomorrow night`s cup clash with Fulham. Tony Pulis is likely to make several changes from the side that drew with West Ham and with both Kenwyne Jones and Jon Walters doubtful due to injury, the Iceman is likely to get the nod.

'I hope to make a start every time and this could be the perfect game to get more minutes in,' he said after making his debut by playing twenty minutes on Saturday.

After virtually no pre-season the former Chelsea striker has found it hard going so far in training as he gets used to TP`s arduous regime but insists he is feeling fitter all the time.

"The manager knew exactly my situation when I arrived here and we've worked together on that. We're easing into it because it's a long season, not a sprint. I came here without a pre-season and without training with the team, but now I would like to think I'm getting close.'

Jones and Walters, who started upfront on Saturday, are unlikely to feature against Fulham at the Brit but could return at Newcastle on Sunday. This means that Ricardo Fuller can be expected to start but never rule out Tuncay, who is still here somewhere.

Other non-regulars expected to feature are Asmir Begovic, Andy Wilkinson, Danny Higginbotham and Michael Tonge, while there should also be places for the likes of Glenn Whelan, Marc Wilson and Matty Etherington.

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