Duo in fitness fight

Stoke will check on the fitness of Andy Wilkinson and Jermaine Pennant ahead of Saturday's clash with Newcastle.

Pennant has hardly trained this week after struggling with a virus and boss Tony Pulis says he will leave it as long as possible before making a decision on the winger. Elsewhere, Wilkinson has recovered well from a groin injury and is expected to be available for selection against the high-flying Magpies at St James' Park. Stoke will come up against Demba Ba the striker that Tony Pulis decided not to sign last summer, but the Stoke boss says he has no regrets despite him firing home 16 goals so far this season. "No, not at all," Pulis revealed when quizzed over whether he regretted pulling out. "We have a medical team here who made a decision and they are fantastic - you only have to see the number of times we get various people on the pitch and what we get out of our players. "They don't need any backing up. They thought there was a problem there - fine, we'll get on with it."