Scholes wary of Stoke test

Pulis has arguably drawn the blueprint for clubs hoping to cement themselves as a top-flight team, despite drawing criticism from some corner for their unapologetically direct style of play.

But as Scholes knows, success in football is driven by positive results and the Welsh manager knows exactly how to get those from his squad of burgeoning talents.

“It’s a credit to him, to his players and his staff. I think in the first year or two after a club is promoted it’s always about survival. But now he’s taken Stoke up to a level where we just don’t expect them to be down struggling near the bottom these days.

“I don’t think anybody expects that with the quality of players they’ve brought in. They’re more likely to be at least a top ten side, maybe even top six or seven. That’s how far they’ve come.”

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