Dean Whitehead will return to his former club Sunderland on Monday

Dean Whitehead has admitted his first goal for Stoke City was overdue after scoring in the 3-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The former Oxford and Sunderland midfielder had taken 22 games to get on the score sheet for the Potters.

"It's been long overdue, I'm delighted to have scored, but it's a team game and we performed really well," the 28-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke.

"The lads showed great character and it was a great performance from us."

He added: "From the first whistle we were up for it, we stopped them from playing, which we knew had to do."

Whitehead said that a lot of the credit should go to winger Matthew Etherington, who set up the goal with a terrific cross.

"Matty's been doing that all season, I couldn't miss," he said.

Two goals from Ricardo Fuller and a late third from Whitehead booked a tie against Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Potters have to wait until Monday, 1 February for their next Premier League game, when they play Whitehead's former club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

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