Shawcross remains Stoke captain

Ryan Shawcross has regained the Stoke City captaincy for the third consecutive season.

The 24 year old will go into his 7th Stoke season as captain but manager Tony Pulis has stated that it doesn`t guarantee him a first team place.

Pulis told The Sentinel: ‘He’s done brilliantly with the armband and continues to grow in stature.

“That’s why he’s staying captain and why everyone around the club respects him so much.

‘But all this doesn’t mean that we won’t leave him out if he loses form or needs a rest.

‘You are only as good as your last game, and Ryan has to understand that if we bring players in, as I hope we will, he has to play well to stay in the team and to make sure he plays another 200 games.’

Manager Tony Pulis has proven in the past that he will drop his captain as previous captains Abdoulaye Faye and Andy Griffin have found out.

The central defender has played 199 times for Stoke in all competitions scoring 9 goals for the Potters; he has also received two caps for the England under-21s.