Stoke City boss Tony Pulis says Brek Shea must be patient about working his way into the first team.

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann was quoted last week saying Shea's lack of action may put his national team place in jeopardy, but Stoke manager Pulis is not tempted to give him a run-out over the final three games of the season.

Pulis said: "Brek hasn't been anywhere near it. We've looked at Brek and he's a smashing lad but fitness wise he came to the club when he'd just got over an injury, he'd been out for months.

"He's come here and I think he's enjoyed it but he's found it difficult at times. It's just making sure we look after him, we manage him well enough and then, when his time comes, his time comes.

"He was always one for next season. The football club didn't buy Brek to come in and change water into wine, that was never going to be the case.

"Him and (goalkeeper Jack) Butland in the January window were signings for the future, they weren't signings to help the team at that moment.

"Brek's only 23 years of age, he's come over from America and it's getting used to everything, getting used to the weather, the set-up. People sometimes don't take that into consideration."