Jonathan Woodgate is confident Stoke's medical staff can keep him on the field, allowing him to prove his worth.
Potters new boy hoping to put his injury troubles behind him
Jonathan Woodgate is confident Stoke's medical staff can keep him on the field, allowing him to prove his worth.
The England international has agreed a pay-as-you-play deal with the Potters after enduring wretched luck with injuries down the years.
Since leaving Leeds back in 2003, the 31-year-old has been unable to steer clear of the treatment table at Newcastle, Real Madrid, Middlesbrough and Tottenham.
Fears regarding his fitness led Spurs to release him this summer, following three interrupted years at White Hart Lane.
Stoke are prepared to take a gamble on his services, though, with a low-risk package put in place.
Woodgate is hoping he can repay their faith with his performances on the field, with Tony Pulis having offered him another shot at the Premier League.
Thrilled
"It was important for me to work hard on my fitness during the summer because I wasn't sure where I would be playing and I knew that would decide my future," he told the club's
official website.
"So hopefully I can stay fit now because I feel I still have a lot to offer at this level.
"With the back-up from the medical and sports science department which they have here at Stoke, that can only help my prospects of doing that."
Woodgate added: "I was thrilled when Tony Pulis asked me to come and join the club.
"I'd spoken to him a couple of times about the progress that Stoke have made over the past three seasons and his plans for the future in aiming to build on that success."
