Tony Pulis has never been relegated in his career as a manager

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis believes the congested nature of the bottom half of the Premier League suits his side's battle to avoid relegation.

City currently sit one point above the relegation zone, but are just two points behind 11th-placed Newcastle.

Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'm pleased that the league is like that because I think it helps everyone who is trying to stay up."

Stoke travel to Stamford Bridge to meet Chelsea on Saturday.

Pulis completed his made his second signing of the January transfer window on Monday by bringing in striker James Beattie from Sheffield United for �2.5m.

Beattie followed Matthew Etherington through the door at the Britannia Stadium, who joined from West Ham for an undisclosed fee last week.

We've got to look for the people who have maybe fallen on hard times and see if we can bring them here and breath new life into them Stoke City manager Tony Pulis

But Pulis is giving no indication as to whether or not his January spending is now over.

"We're just looking at what's available," said Pulis.

"There's no use us going for players who are already with big teams or at their peak because they just won't come to us.

"We've got to look for the people who have maybe fallen on hard times and see if we can bring them here and breath new life into them," he added.

However Pulis said he and his squad will not be downhearted if more new faces fail to arrive at the Britannia Stadium.

"I honestly believe that if we don't bring anyone else in we'll still have the spirit and commitment to have a good run at staying up," said Pulis.

"But if we do add more quality players, we'll hope that they settle quickly and give us a good chance of staying up."

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