Forgotten striker Dave Kitson has been told he has a part to play in Stoke's plans between now and the end of the season.
Kitson has been forced to endure another stop-start campaign in a Stoke shirt this year but enjoyed one of his better moments for the Potters in midweek as his goal put them on their way to a 3-1 FA Cup victory over Manchester City.
The goal was his first for Stoke since September 19 and boss Tony Pulis has assured him that he will be given more first-team chances if he continues to work hard.
Pulis told the Sentinel: ""I'm just pleased for Dave because he's had a very up and down career here.
"I had a chat with him a couple of weeks ago after nobody came in for him on deadline day.
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I just told him to get his head down and work hard, because he was still in my thoughts.
"I'm hoping that goal will give him confidence, because he's still got a part to play here.
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The goal was taken superbly and just goes to show his ability, but we've always known he's got that in his locker."