Stoke City signing Matthew Upson doesn't expect a start for the season kickoff against Chelsea.
Upson joined Stoke earlier this week on a Bosman from West Ham United.
"I would be very surprised if I did get the nod to start," the 32-year-old defender told stokecityfc.com. "I'm a little bit behind the other lads at the moment so I think the gaffer will want to get me up and running first.
"I have been given my own little routine to do for the next ten days or so to get me up to speed with the rest of the lads, because at the moment they are in front of me."
He added: "That is what I was anticipating though because I haven't actually done any pitch training with a group of lads all summer. Everything I have done has been on my own in terms of fitness work up to now, and at times it was a bit of a chore.
"But I knew what was at the end of it, a contract somewhere, so I was determined to do everything I could to maintain my fitness."
