Ryan Shotton (r) battles for the ball with Blackpool's DJ Campbell

Stoke defender Ryan Shotton believes hard work on the training ground has paid off for him after he made his Premier League debut at Blackpool.

Potteries-born Shotton, 22, replaced Andy Wilkinson after 56 minutes of the 0-0 draw at Bloomfield Road.

"I've not been out on loan and training with the team every day has helped me massively," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"It doesn't prepare you for the pace of the game, but I was called upon and you've got to be ready."

He continued: "There was obviously Danny Collins and Abdoulaye Faye on the bench, but he [manager Tony Pulis] has gone with me.

"I've been working hard and it's paid off for me, it's fantastic. The manager just told me to concentrate, try to enjoy it and do my best."

Shotton, who has 63 league starts to his name from loan spells at Tranmere and Barnsley, has started three matches in cup competitions for the Potters.

Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "I promised Ryan that if we could get ourselves in a position where we can use him, we will.

"He's been very patient. He's a young lad, he's a local lad and it's nice to give him a little taste of it. I thought he did smashing when he came on."

With Rory Delap substituted late on, Shotton was called upon to deliver some long throws into the Blackpool penalty area and he said that it is something he has been working on in training.

"Until Rory's not doing it any more, I'd like to say that he's the man," added Shotton. "That's one of the things that I've got in my locker.

"He gets it flat and I don't think mine's as good. I'll get the practice in now though. I know I'm close and I'm ready for it."

Kenwyne Jones missed Stoke's best chance of the game in the first half, rounding goalkeeper Matt Gilks but firing wide of an empty net.

Pulis said jokingly: "It was probably too easy a chance, he took his eye off the ball.

"To give him the benefit of the doubt, the ball did bounce up on a difficult surface with the wind blowing around. I've done my best for him there."

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