Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is confident that Peter Crouch will be available for the Potters' Premier League match against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, despite checking into hospital.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker was sidelined in the club's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Pulis admitted that the 30-year-old had been suffering from headaches this week, which required medical attention, but has insisted that the frontman is likely to be fit for Monday.

"Crouchy went into hospital and had some checks," The Sentinel quotes Pulis as saying. "He had been suffering with headaches for a couple of days and we didn't want to take any chances with him.

"The way to do that was to get him to stay away. I've spoken to him and he's fine. He's at home at the moment and we are hoping he will train on Friday and be ready to go when we play Villa."

The Potters currently sit eighth in the league table on 24 points.