Delap joined Stoke from Sunderland in October 2006
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis believes teams in the Premier League cannot cope with Rory Delap's long throw-ins.
Of the Potters' eight Premier League goals this season, five have come as a result of a Delap throw-in.
Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "He's such an important asset for us and teams in the Premier League don't seem to be able to cope.
"Even Portsmouth, who have a big side, every time Rory threw the ball in they were frightened to death."
City's latest defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday, left Pulis ruing the loss of key players through a combination of injury and illness.
"Ricardo Fuller has had a bug and seems to have passed it on Carl Dickinson, Thomas Sorensen and two or three others.
"Salif Diao picked up a little injury and obviously Liam Lawrence is out so we've had a few setbacks.
"But you don't want to make excuses and you expect the team you send out to compete and do things properly. It is disappointing to lose by the odd goal."
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