Stoke midfielder Rory Delap accepts no-one can be guaranteed a place in the starting line-up - as he has discovered to his cost - but would not have it any other way. The 34-year-old has started all but nine of the club's 83 Barclays Premier League matches but found himself on the bench for the defeat at Newcastle at the end of last month. Delap returned for the home victory over Blackburn, but he is taking nothing for granted now with the Potters squad having been significantly strengthened in the summer. "I have to be honest and say I wasn't playing as well as I should have been, but no-one here sits in the corner sulking if they are not playing," he said.
Source: PA
Source: PA