Stoke City striker James Beattie should be available to take on his former club Blackburn Rovers this weekend despite having 12 stitches after a collision against Newcastle.

"The blood was dripping into his eye and it was obviously becoming difficult for him," Stoke boss Tony Pulis told The Sentinel.

"I thought he did well for 10 or 15 minutes after the incident, but then I thought he started to fade a bit and it was right to bring him off.

"He's had 12 stitches in the wound, so it's quite a big one, but at the moment I would say he should be okay for Blackburn on Saturday.

"It's definitely one he'll want to play in because they're his first club."