Kitson looking to kick on

Potters keep faith with frontman

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kitson looking to kick on

Kitson: Back in contention

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Dave Kitson will be offered plenty of opportunity to prove his worth to Stoke before the end of the season.

The £5.5million striker has endured a torrid time at the Britannia Stadium since joining from Reading in 2008.

He has managed only a handful of goals during his time at the club and has taken in loan spells at Reading and Middlesbrough after falling out of favour.

Kitson is, however, back in first-team contention at the moment and could be handed a first start since September against Burnley on Wednesday.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis still believes the 30-year-old can provide value for money and insists he will give the much-maligned frontman every chance to silence his critics.

Shattered

"I had a chat with Dave a few weeks ago and since then he has really got his head down," he said.

"Nobody came in for him in January, but he is still part of my plans.

"We have had so many games over the last few weeks that some of the players are mentally shattered.

"It is a massive game for them (Burnley) and us and Dave is very much in my thoughts."