Wilkinson lost his first-team place to Robert Huth in September

Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson is expecting a battle to hold onto his first-team place, with Robert Huth set to return from a three-game suspension.

Wilkinson started the games against Tottenham and Wolves while Huth served his ban for violent conduct.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, Wilkinson said: "Tony Pulis knows he'll get a million per cent from me. I don't think I could have done any more."

Stoke, who are currently ninth in the table, go to struggling Hull on Sunday.

Wilkinson signed a new three-year contract with the Potters in the summer, having started regularly at right-back for the second half of last season.

He also started the first five league games of the current campaign, but was dropped following the arrival of Huth for £5m from Middlesbrough.

Huth made six appearances for the Potters, scoring once, before the incident against West Ham on 17 October which saw him retrospectively charged for violent conduct.

Referee Martin Atkinson did not see the German international strike Hammers skipper Matthew Upson, but the FA intervened after viewing video evidence.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version