Shawcross desperate for chance at Eastlands

Young defender Shawcross who signed from Manchester Untied last season has started only one Premier League game this season, the opening day defeat at Bolton. Since then he has been restricted to playing in the Carling Cup as he has fallen behind Leon Cort, Abdoulaye Faye and Ibrahima Sonko in the pecking order.

However, having grabbed a place on the bench at the expense of Leon Cort for last Sundays vital 2-1 victory over Spurs, Shawcross came on as a second half substitute for the injured Sonko. With Sonko struggling to be fit in time for the game this coming weekend, Shawcross is keen on another chance to show what he can do.

Despite interest from several Championship clubs, Tony Pulis has insisted that Shawcross is still firmly in his plans, and after working hard in training Ryan now has the chance to show what he can do and cement a place in the team.