Post by ade on Mar 24, 2007 10:40:14 GMT -1
CITY STAR UNDER A RONALDO SPOTLIGHT
Be the first reader to comment on this story
09:40 - 24 March 2007
Stoke City favourite Carl Hoefkens has been told to keep his cool against Cristiano Ronaldo when he appears for Belgium in Portugal this evening.Hoefkens and his fellow Belgian defenders are under the spotlight after comments ahead of tonight's European Championship qualifier in Lisbon.
The Portuguese press and public are up in arms after the Belgian goalkeeper quipped that his defenders might have to injure Ronaldo to stop him scoring.
"I was on the phone to Carl and he was half joking about it, saying he was worried because all eyes will be on his first tackle against Ronaldo," said City boss Tony Pulis.
"All I've told him is to play his normal game and, above all else, make sure he comes back to us fit and well to play against Leicester next weekend.
"Carl is playing right-back for Belgium and it will be quite an experience for him squaring up to Ronaldo in his own backyard."
Pulis had rung Hoefkens because he intended to fly out to Portugal to watch his own man in international action - and a compatriot in the Belgian team.
"Unfortunately," added Pulis, "Carl tells me the said player isn't playing, so I've called off the trip."
Injuries and international call-ups meant only half-a-dozen senior Stoke players trained fully yesterday ahead of this weekend's break.
But Pulis reported: "We're hoping Lee Hendrie will be among those returning to the training field early next week.
"His knee is feeling a lot better after rest and injections. We'll have to go steady because we don't want to risk losing him to another setback, but we're hopeful he might be available for the Leicester game."
www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/stokecity
Seems as well pulis has burried the hachet with Carl which is a good thing and interesting if it happens...
Be the first reader to comment on this story
09:40 - 24 March 2007
Stoke City favourite Carl Hoefkens has been told to keep his cool against Cristiano Ronaldo when he appears for Belgium in Portugal this evening.Hoefkens and his fellow Belgian defenders are under the spotlight after comments ahead of tonight's European Championship qualifier in Lisbon.
The Portuguese press and public are up in arms after the Belgian goalkeeper quipped that his defenders might have to injure Ronaldo to stop him scoring.
"I was on the phone to Carl and he was half joking about it, saying he was worried because all eyes will be on his first tackle against Ronaldo," said City boss Tony Pulis.
"All I've told him is to play his normal game and, above all else, make sure he comes back to us fit and well to play against Leicester next weekend.
"Carl is playing right-back for Belgium and it will be quite an experience for him squaring up to Ronaldo in his own backyard."
Pulis had rung Hoefkens because he intended to fly out to Portugal to watch his own man in international action - and a compatriot in the Belgian team.
"Unfortunately," added Pulis, "Carl tells me the said player isn't playing, so I've called off the trip."
Injuries and international call-ups meant only half-a-dozen senior Stoke players trained fully yesterday ahead of this weekend's break.
But Pulis reported: "We're hoping Lee Hendrie will be among those returning to the training field early next week.
"His knee is feeling a lot better after rest and injections. We'll have to go steady because we don't want to risk losing him to another setback, but we're hopeful he might be available for the Leicester game."
www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/stokecity
Seems as well pulis has burried the hachet with Carl which is a good thing and interesting if it happens...