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DERBY boss Paul Jewell reckons Ricardo Fuller would be playing for one of the really big guns if his career hadn't been blighted by a knee injury.
Jewell goes into this evening's Carling Cup quarter-final hoping Fuller is left on the bench, or even rested completely, after paying tribute to the Jamaican's talent.
"I think Ricardo Fuller is a top-class player and if not for injuries I think he would have played in one of the top teams," claimed Jewell.
"The goal he scored against Aston Villa at the start of the season... if Ronaldo had scored that, they'd be showing it time and time again."
He says Fuller's skill is symptomatic of Stoke's reliance on far more than the long-ball and strong-arm tactics to which most attribute their recent success.
"I don't think Tony Pulis gets enough credit," said Jewell. "People talk about the long throw and the long ball, but Tony Pulis has done a great job and has got some good players there.
"I know Tony well and it suits him. He's quite happy for everyone to say how horrible Stoke are to play against with the long throws.
"People are going to be frightened before they get there and they underestimate his players as individuals.
"Stoke have some good players. Rory Delap was a player here and he's a good footballer. There's also Salif Diao, who played for Liverpool.
"I'm not one of these people who buys into the 'it's going to be just long balls'.
The former Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan manager added: "They've done brilliantly well in the Premier League and it's going to be a tough test for us.
"You underestimate Stoke as a footballing team at your peril.
Jewell goes into this evening's Carling Cup quarter-final hoping Fuller is left on the bench, or even rested completely, after paying tribute to the Jamaican's talent.
"I think Ricardo Fuller is a top-class player and if not for injuries I think he would have played in one of the top teams," claimed Jewell.
"The goal he scored against Aston Villa at the start of the season... if Ronaldo had scored that, they'd be showing it time and time again."
He says Fuller's skill is symptomatic of Stoke's reliance on far more than the long-ball and strong-arm tactics to which most attribute their recent success.
"I don't think Tony Pulis gets enough credit," said Jewell. "People talk about the long throw and the long ball, but Tony Pulis has done a great job and has got some good players there.
"I know Tony well and it suits him. He's quite happy for everyone to say how horrible Stoke are to play against with the long throws.
"People are going to be frightened before they get there and they underestimate his players as individuals.
"Stoke have some good players. Rory Delap was a player here and he's a good footballer. There's also Salif Diao, who played for Liverpool.
"I'm not one of these people who buys into the 'it's going to be just long balls'.
The former Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan manager added: "They've done brilliantly well in the Premier League and it's going to be a tough test for us.
"You underestimate Stoke as a footballing team at your peril.
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