Alan Pardew: "Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez could play, we have just got to see after training tomorrow, really.
"You are pitching them in without training after 10 to 14 days in a Premier League game where it is almost like warfare at times at their place, so I will be careful what I do.
"I would have to be 100% sure they are right.
"We think Joey has got a good chance - he did the warm-up today. Jose looks very doubtful; Jonas did the warm-up today, but he looks a bit doubtful.
"I don't know. My selection will be based around being strong enough to cope with what they [Stoke] do.
"They don't really carve you open with inter-play, it is set-plays and second phases and aggression and forceful play, and you have got to be able to cope with that.
"That's something I will think about when I select the team.
"It's not really an ideal situation for us. We ended up with a lot of injuries over the Christmas period when games were so congested - ridiculously so - and now we find ourselves with one game in the best part of a month.
"It can't be right. For us, it is difficult because we are trying to keep the focus of the players.
"We have this game, when we have had a two-week break leading into it, and we are going to have a two-week break coming out of it, so it's far from ideal.
"But with the players I have and the experience I have, hopefully we will be able to cope with that."
Footymad are organising a poker competition on MONDAY this week ... with a prize pot of $500. Anyone interested?
FOOTYMAD: We be running the first tournaments on Monday of this week (21st) strting at 8pm, with a view to continuing every fortnight.
The idea is that each site will have a free roll tournament with a prize pot of $500. By making it site-specific we're hoping there will be a bit of friendly banter between regulars to add to the competitive element. If its popular we may well then be able to organise an inter-club tournament between the winners of each club site? A Champions League of Poker so to speak.
All is set for Monday at 8pm.
Bonus Code: Nunited
http://www.partypoker.com/td/wsop_2011/wsop_2011.htm?wm=3289944
Please use the 'Nunited' bonus code in order to register with PartyGaming ready for Monday (can do this from now).
Then on Monday I'll let you know the password so we can get into the private room for NU Mad in time for the 8pm start.
If this works well we hope to do it fortnightly and you could then even arrange a better day/time if you prefer.
Any questions, give me a shout and I'll try to get the answer to you asap.
Kev - the usual address - Kevnumad@fsmail.net