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WORK PERMIT WAIT FOR STOKE
Faye - could start for Stoke.
Stoke are waiting for the arrival of work permits for new recruits Abdoulaye Faye and Haminu Dramani ahead of their first home game in the Premier League against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Centre-back Faye, a £2.25million signing from Newcastle, is expected to go straight into Tony Pulis' team if clearance is received, while Dramani, a winger on loan from Locomotiv Moscow, would be in contention for a place on the bench.
Amdy Faye could also make his debut, while Pulis will make late fitness checks on forwards Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence.
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has named an unchanged squad.
O'Neill has no new injury problems and is keeping faith with the players in action during the impressive 4-2 win over Manchester City last weekend.
Midfielder Steve Sidwell and recent signing, defender Carlos Cuellar, are making good progress from calf injuries but will not be considered against Tony Pulis's side.
Teams:
Stoke (from): Sorensen, Griffin, Wilkinson, Cort, Shawcross, Dickinson, Lawrence, Delap, Olofinjana, Whelan, Amdy Faye, Cresswell, Sidibe, Kitson, Fuller, Simonsen, Pugh, Diao, Parkin, Pericard, Abdoulaye Faye, Dramani.
Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Luke Young, Laursen, Davies, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, Ashley Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Taylor, Harewood, Knight, Salifou, Routledge, Gardner, Osbourne.
