Transfer wise Owen is linked with a move to Australia, unlikely as his family is settled in the north west and his racehorses are nearby.

Tony Pulis said in his press conference today that Michael Owen would travel with the squad to Crystal Palace. If Owen doesn’t make the bench on Saturday I can’t see him staying much longer.

Rory Delap was also confirmed as still out with an injury, possibly up to 3-4 weeks.

Danny Higginbotham has left on a free tarnsfer to Sheff Utd who have signed him until the summer with a view to extended the deal. He has been a great player for the club but he wants regular football and the last time he played for us was back in December 2011. Good luck to him.

Next up Crystal Palace in the FA Cup 3rd round…

Stoke forward Michael Owen posted up a picture of the trophies he had won (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Stoke forward Michael Owen decided to post a picture of his trophy cabinet on Twitter after he was criticised for not playing enough games for his club.

The former Liverpool striker, who has appeared only four times for his current team, reacted after he was mocked by users on the social network for his lack of playing time.

The 33-year-old drew criticism after he tweeted following his side’s 3-0 away defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League.

‘Tough game today and not many teams get anything away at Man City,’ he wrote.

‘Shame our 10 game unbeaten run in the Premier League is over. #Stoke’

Users responded by asking what he had done for Stoke this season and why he was constantly injured.

‘Tough game Michael? You didn’t even make the bench, how do you know how tough it was?,’ wrote @MrWokingham.

@Heskey007 added: ‘Must have been a real tough game for you, picking splinters out of your arse! #bench #retire.’

Owen has an impressive trophy haul that includes the European Player of the Year award (Picture: Twitter)

The messages appeared to upset Owen, who was not in the matchday squad for the game at the Eastlands, and he followed up with the response: ‘New Year but things never change.

‘About 100 replies to my last tweet so far and every single one is abusive. What a lovely world we live in.

‘Tweet something like that and then you see the nicer side of Twitter. The minority always ruin it for genuinely decent people.’

The ex-England striker wasn’t done there either and posted a picture of his trophy cabinet, which includes Premier League and FA Cup winners medals, in a not so subtle message to his critics.

‘Just to remind the trolls with a short memory out there,’ he added.

Manchester City eased to a 3-0 win over Stoke (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City assistant boss David Platt hailed a job well done after the Premier League champions eased to a deserved win over Stoke.

City dominated from the outset at the Etihad Stadium and although they were made to wait until the 43rd minute for Pablo Zabaleta’s opener, the result was rarely in doubt.

Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, from the penalty spot, wrapped up the routine success after the break.

Platt said: ‘We’re happy with the result and performance.

‘The goal just before half-time was more than deserved but it doesn’t make the second half any easier – you’ve still got to go out and play. It just settles you down a bit without the clock running against you.

‘They have shown all season it is hard to score goals against them.’

With Manchester United winning at Wigan, City remain seven points behind their rivals at the top of the table.

Platt said: ‘We have just got to continue to win football matches.

‘We have been producing chances in games over the last month to six weeks.

‘We lamented a little bit at Sunderland the chances we produced without scoring enough goals. Fortunately we are getting our ratios up.’

Stoke provided little threat during the game and manager Tony Pulis made no excuses for their lacklustre display.

Pulis said: ‘Someone asked me what the difference was – I said about £220million. For us to come here we have to bring our “A” game and City have to be off it.’

Moving the goalposts: City staff shift the advertising boards (Picture: Sion Parry)

Manchester City have been accused of using underhand tactics to help them beat Stoke City – after being caught moving the advertising boards to stop the Potters from using their iconic long-throws.

Tony Pulis’ side are well known for their set-piece mastery, which has extended to the dangerous use of throw-ins in recent years, with innovations such as towels sewn into shirts helping them lob the ball right into the opposition six yard box.

But keen to avoid Stoke’s aerial bombardment, City came up with an invention of their own, after moving the advertising boards right to the edge of the pitch ahead of today’s match, in order to make it difficult for Stoke players to get the run up needed to propel the football.

It’s a cheeky ploy, but one they didn’t get away with, after one cheeky fan caught the City ground staff moving the boards on camera.

The move earned City some bad reviews on Twitter, but after beating Stoke 3-0, they won’t care.

Pablo Zabaleta (left) opened the scoring just before half-time (Picture: AFP)

Manchester City stayed within reach of Premier League leaders Manchester United with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Stoke.

It took Roberto Mancini’s side 43 minutes to break down a resilient Stoke defence, but goals from Pablo Zabaleta, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero sealed a good victory for the hosts and resigned the Potters to their first defeat in 11 outings.

City started the game brightly but couldn’t make their pressure count, with Yaya Toure twice firing over and Asmir Begovic denying Aguero in the Stoke goal.

But it was City defender Zabaleta who made the breakthrough just before the break, as he found the bottom corner from inside the six-yard box.

Mancini’s side then doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half with Dzeko netting from close range to grab his third goal in two games.

Edin Dzeko put Manchester City two goals up just after half time (Picture: Getty)

The result was put beyond doubt with 15 minutes remaining as Aguero scored from the penalty spot after Steven Nzonzi felled David Silva.

Joe Hart had a relaxed start to 2013, making just one save of note in the closing stages at the Etihad Stadium, with the Potters offering little going forward.

The victory keeps City within seven points of their local rivals at the top of the Premier League.

Transfer rumours hotting up with the Daily Mail reporting Shawcross to Man City; Michael Owen going Espanyol on loan is a Twitter rumour and Blackburn’s Martin Olsson is back on the Pulis radar.

Exit route: Michael Owen could be tempted to quit Stoke with a move to Espanyol (Picture: PA)

Spanish side Espanyol are reportedly set to offer Michael Owen a surprise escape route from Stoke City during the January transfer window.

The Catalan club are on the lookout for another forward in the new year, and are said to have identified Owen as a possible option, given his lack of game time since moving to Stoke.

Owen has made just one appearance for Tony Pulis’s men in the league since joining them in September, and is rumoured to have developed itchy feet in the last few weeks.

Espanyol would not be able to afford a whopping wage package, but Owen is known to have enjoyed his time in Spain whilst at Real Madrid, and they hope that that, along with the offer of regular minutes, could be enough to tempt the England legend into a move.

According to Marca, the deal could be done as early as the first week of January.

Next up Southampton at home on Saturday and we need to keep playing like this.

Jonathan Walters (2nd L) celebrates with team mater after scoring the third goal for Stoke City (Picture: Action Images)

Liverpool crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Stoke after initially taking the lead through a Steven Gerrard penalty.

Despite converting the spot kick, earned by Luis Suarez, the Reds succumbed to a good Stoke side who battled all the way, with a Jonathan Walters brace and Kenwyne Jones earning all three points.

The match got off to a frantic start, with Liverpool taking the lead in the opening two minutes via Gerrard’s penalty – the England captain converting the spot-kick after Suarez had been pulled back by Ryan Shawcross.

Liverpool were pegged back only three minutes later though when Stoke equalised through Walters, who took advantage of a Martin Skrtel slip and calmly finished to the left of Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Luis Suarez’s (left) penalty wasn’t enough to earn Liverpool a victory (Picture: Getty)

The home side then took the lead in the 12th minute when giant forward Jones scored a header from a Glenn Whelan corner.

Liverpool came out in the second half looking to level the match but it was Stoke who struck first when Walters got his second of the game four minutes after the restart.

The man of the match controlled the ball on his chest and then volleyed the ball into the net.

The goal seemed to knock the wind out of the visitors and they rarely threatened for the rest of the game.

The Merseyside club now sit 10th in the Premier League, with Stoke a couple of places above them in eighth.

Still no firm news on Shawcross signing a new contract but we need to get him signing ASAP

Stoke have overhauled the backroom staff with John Rudge leaving at the end of the season and Sam Ellis has left the club this week.

Michael Tonge, currently on loan at Leeds Utd has been hinting he’d like to sign permanently for Leeds as his contract is up at Stoke in the summer.  No news as yet on whether Jermaine Pennant will extend his loan at Wolves past January.

In demand: Valencia want Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross (Picture: Getty)

La Liga side Valencia are weighing up a shock move for Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross, according to reports in Spain.

The 25-year-old centre-back is currently locked in negotiations with Stoke over a new contract, but AS say Shawcross could be offered a surprise escape route in January, with Spanish club Valencia mulling over a £6million bid.

Shawcross, who made his England debut against Sweden last month, is one of the most improved central defenders in the country, and Tottenham and Everton are both believed to be long-term admirers.

But according to speculation in Spain, Shawcross has been chased by Valencia for years, dating back to his time on loan at Belgian club Royal Antwerp in 2007.

England star: Ryan Shawcross has recently become an England international (Picture: PA)

Los Che scouts also watched the Chester-born defender close up when Stoke faced Valencia in the last 32 of the Europa League last term.

Stoke remain confident of tying Shawcross up to a new contract, but with Valencia in need of defensive reinforcements, they are likely to offer a tempting alternative.

Match officials missed the incident, which took place as the pair jostled at a corner in the second half of Saturday’s game at the Britannia Stadium, but it was caught on video and a charge was issued retrospectively by the Football Association.

“The player and the club have accepted the charge and the 25-year-old will be suspended for three [league] games against West Ham, Wigan and Chelsea,” Everton said in a statement.

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Fellaini, a Belgium international who has been one of the Premier League’s top performers this season, apologized for his actions in a statement hours after the match, saying he had been “unprofessional.”

“There was a lot of pushing and pulling going on inside the Stoke penalty area and I didn’t feel I was getting any protection from the officials,” Fellaini said. “Nevertheless I know I shouldn’t have done what I did.

“I have also apologized to the manager and the staff. I have no excuses, I was disappointed with the way I was being treated and I lost my temper.”

Fellaini was also seen on footage pushing Shawcross in the face and leaning into the England centre back with his head in two separate incidents at corners. The FA, however, said the referee saw both confrontations and deemed neither to be violent conduct.

Still Shawcross hasn’t signed his new contract and Pulis hinted he may weigh in to get it signed.

Peter Crouch will miss the West Brom game due to losing three teeth and Kenwyne Jones looks set to start in his place. Both Michael Owen and Andy Wilkinson are available again after injury and it will mean Cameron Jerome starts on the bench again, possibly alongside Owen.

The club have terminated Diego Arismendi’s contract by mutual consent. Never really played much for us and the last time we let Dave Kemp go scouting in South America…

All the pre match facts and stats

Tony Pulis` Stoke City are set to travel to the Hawthorns to face Steve Clarke`s high flying West Bromwich Albion.

Here are all the important pre-match facts and stats.
Head-to-Head
-Stoke City have won every Premier League game at the Hawthorns (0-2, 0-3, 0-1)

-Stoke City have not conceded an Premier League goal at the Hawthorns

-Stoke City have won 4 out 5 Premier League encounters against W.B.A (P5 W4 D0 L1)

-Stoke City are 5 games unbeaten at the Hawthorns in all competitions (P5 W4 D1 L0)

-West Brom won the last encounter 2-1 at t Britannia Stadium, whilst Stoke won 1-0 at the Hawthorns

West Bromwich Albion
-The Baggies have won 6 out 7 of their home encounters this season (P7 W6 D0 L1)

-W.B.A. currently sit in 4th place and could as high as 3rd with a win

-Shane Long is the club`s top goal scorer this season with 7 goals

Stoke City
-Stoke are currently unbeaten in 4 games (P4 W3 D1 L0)

-The Potters have failed to win away in the Premier League this season

-The Potters have failed to win away in 16 Premier League away games since January 2 2012 against Blackburn Rovers

-Stoke currently sit in 9th and could rise as high as 6th with a win

-Jonathan Walters has started in 65 consecutive Premier League matches

Crouch is a major doubt for W.B.A. (Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/35558439@N08/)

Peter Crouch is a major doubt for Stoke City`s trip to local rivals West Bromwich Albion after facing dental surgery after losing several teeth against Newcastle United.

The beanpole striker lost two teeth and has another embedded in his jaw after a collision with Newcastle United captain Fabricio Collocini.

The incident occurred in the first half of the Potters 2-1 victory at the Britannia Stadium against Alan Pardew`s men.

The former England international, who has not scored since September, is likely to miss the trip to Hawthorns on the 1st December, and could also miss other games in the lead up to the busy Christmas period.

It is likely that Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones, who has not scored a Premier League goal since the opening day of the 2011/12 season, will deputise in the absence of the 31-year-old striker.

Ryan Shawcross has signed a new 6 year contract (Picture courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronmacphotos/)

Stoke City have tied down club captain Ryan Shawcross to a record 6 year contract.

The deal is rumoured to be around £45,000 a week, which is the longest and most expensive contract in the Potters` 150 year club history.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis told the Sentinel: ‘Ryan has been immense for us. I took him from Manchester United’s third team and I remember him scoring on his debut at Cardiff – and he’s improved ever since.

‘Ryan has done brilliantly for us, but the club has also done brilliantly for him as well.

‘We are more than happy to give Ryan that length of contract. He is loved to death by everyone here and he’s such a big softy at times because he’s such a big family man.’

The move to keep the England international at the Britannia Stadium for up to a decade is seen as a bold one by the club`s hierarchy.

Pulis holds Shawcross in the highest esteem and with growing rumours that the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool have been weighing up a move for the Chester born central defender; Chairman Peter Coates has funded the move to keep the 25-year-old in Staffordshire.

Shawcross, who has made over 200 appearances for the club since his arrival from Manchester United in 2007 for £2 million after an initial loan deal told the The Sentinel: ‘I am very happy here and very settled here.

‘I have loved my five years here so far and I want that to continue. We have progressed incredibly from when I first came.

‘The people here have looked after me really well, the fans have been brilliant with me and I want to be a part of the future.’

Goal scoring hero Charlie Adam is extremely happy that his captain has agreed the new deal. He told The Sentinel: ‘When you’ve got quality like that, you need to keep it in your group and the manager has always stressed he’s one of our best players.
‘This is a good club going forward and Ryan wants to be part of that. He’s been here for a number of years.

‘He’s seen it from what it was to what it is now and he knows it’s progressing. It’s good to have people like that at the club.’

Fulham’s manager Martin Jol says we were almost like a rugby team…just like he is almost a decent manager. Geoff Cameron played at LB with Ryan Shotton at RB and he had a decent game.

Charlie Adam scored the winner and Stoke should have put away a few more chances. Newcastle up next in our first midweek game of the season and maybe a start for Kenwyne Jones?