Pulis: Simmo needs some competition

Tony Pulis has restated his intention to get a new second string keeper for Stoke.

The Potters have had no cover for Steve Simonsen since the retirement of Ed De Goey in the summer, except for a few games when Academy keeper, Robert Duggan has been on the bench.

Pulis feels that this has had a detrimental effect on the normally reliable stopper and that there should be some competition for the number 1 jersey.

He told the Sentinel: ‘We have been looking for another keeper for some while.

There’s no doubt that competition is the best way to keep people in good form and not fall into the trap of drifting down easy street.

Simmo is a top keeper, but he can only benefit from another one coming in,’

Simonsen joined the Potters on a free from Everton in 2004 as cover for Ed De Goey, but quickly made the position his own when Big Ed suffered a couple of injuries. Last season the former Chelsea player and Dutch international found himself on the bench for all but a couple of matches.