Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is delighted with the return of two Potters favourites.

Danny Higginbotham and Mamady Sidibe are now pushing for a first team call after recovering from long-term injury.

"We are pleased to see Danny back," Pulis said.

"Also Mama is very close. We need all the help we can get and they are good lads.

"They are people who have been here for a long time and they know the structure and DNA of the football club. They are important people to us.

"I think the basis of the football club is really built on having good people around you.

"As a manager the job is hard enough as it is and you can make it even more difficult if you don't get the right sort of people in.

"I think over the past six or seven years what we have done very well is select decent people, who have come here and really rolled their sleeves up and worked hard.

"Rory has epitomised that - he would be in that top group of players that you would say this club has been built on. He has been a bedrock of the success of Stoke City."