Wilkinson came through the youth system at Stoke City

Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson has described his man-of-the-match performance against Portsmouth on Sunday as the best of his career.

The 25-year-old right-back was named in the team in place of the suspended Stoke skipper Abdoulaye Faye.

"I'm on top of the world, it's a great feeling," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"To be a local lad as well and have the whole stadium chanting my name, I'm over the moon. Hopefully I've caused the manager a bit of a problem."

Stoke won the game 1-0 thanks to a second half goal from striker Ricardo Fuller.

Wilkinson, who was born in nearby Stone, has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place since the arrivals of Danny Collins and Robert Huth at the Britannia Stadium.

Manager Tony Pulis said: "I thought he was smashing and my one regret is that he hasn't found the back of the net, because if he had it would have been the goal of the season.

"He's a local lad and a great kid and I'm very pleased for him."

Stoke, who are ninth in the Premier League, are away at Blackburn in their next game on Saturday.

"The more points we can get on the board is good for us, so we'll take the plus points into next week," added Wilkinson.

"We're always confident and we always work together, so if you've got that you've got a great starting point."

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