Stoke City boss Tony Pulis admits he was reluctant to lose Liam Lawrence on Tuesday.

Kitson moved to Portsmouth as part of the deal that took Marc Wilson to the Potteries.

"Liam's been one of my favourites and one of my best-ever signings," Pulis told The Sentinel.

"We weren't too keen on him moving because he's still got a bit left in the tank for us, but it was his decision. We would have still done the Wilson deal anyway."

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