Stoke City legend Gordon Banks believes manager Tony Pulis is on the verge of greatness.

Pulis has had to overcome critics among supporters in his two spells in charge, but Banks says keeping City up next season would make him the best since Tony Waddington's reign.

He told The Sentinel: "It would have to do, because the Premier League is much harder now. All clubs have international players costing millions.

"What Tony has achieved has been excellent because he has had little or no money to spend, but he has got some good loan players in."

Banks added: "What I like about Tony Pulis is the way he knows his players. He gets into their minds to get the best out of them.

"No one knows what clubs are going to do. We don't expect Stoke to be at the top but if they can hold their own as the seasons go by, and add players here and there, then hopefully we can stay up there."