STOKE City manager Tony Pulis insists his Premier League big boys will give York City the “utmost respect” when the Minstermen visit the Britannia Stadium for tomorrow’s FA Cup third round clash (3pm).

The Potters’ boss has warned his international star-studded side they can not be under-par against Martin Foyle’s Blue Square Premier high-fliers.

“We will be treating York with the utmost respect,” he said.

“We will be looking to get going as quickly as possible and hopefully get the crowd going as well.

“In any game, anyone can play over their maximum and if we are under par you never know what might happen.”

It’s expected that Pulis, who has gained a reputation for radically changing his starting line-up for FA and Carling Cup matches during his tenure, will again shuffle the pack but the Stoke boss has coyly indicated his 11 tomorrow might depend on the weather.

With only one win in their last ten matches, and having been defeated in their last three Premier League encounters, Pulis might take the opportunity to field a stronger side if his men are unable to work on the training ground.

Pulis added: “We will take a look at it over the next day or so, but the forecast isn’t very good at all so it really depends on how much work we can do on the training ground.

“But there is a possibility that we will keep off the training ground and use the York game to keep everyone as sharp as possible.”

Meanwhile, Pulis said he had not spoken to assistant manager Peter Reid about the vacant job at Bolton.

The former Leeds United and Sunderland boss has been widely touted to replace Gary Megson, who was sacked this week, at the Reebok Stadium.

But Pulis, who has offered Megson a role at the Britannia Stadium in the wake of his dismissal, said of Reid: “I don’t think it is for me to ask people what they are doing and not doing. I am sure Peter would speak to me first.”

On Megson, Pulis revealed he would be delighted to have him back in a coaching capacity with his backroom team after a similar offer helped him back into management before landing the Bolton job. He said: “He worked here for nothing back in 2007 and that got him back into the swing of things.”


Beach ball ref is man in middle

BEACH BALL referee Mike Jones will take charge of York City’s FA Cup third round clash at Stoke tomorrow.

The Chester official was the man in black during the now infamous match between Sunderland and Liverpool in October when Darren Bent’s winner deflected off an inflatable into Pepe Reina’s net.

Jones was dropped from Premier League duty as the goal should have been disallowed.

But he will be no stranger to Minstermen fans, having taken charge of City’s FA Trophy final defeat against Stevenage at Wembley in May.