Stoke gets good news all round

Significantly, fears surrounding defender Robert Huth have eased as he is expected to be sidelined for just two weeks after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, the milder form of the illness.

On the transfer front, Pulis has completed the capture of Michael Kightly from Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, whilst Geoff Cameron has been granted a work permit to finalise his move from Houston Dynamos.

For Huth and Pulis, the news comes as a major relief after the 27-year-old centre-back was rushed into hospital on Monday with a mystery virus after reporting for training.

After a series of tests to determine his condition, Huth is to remain under observation in hospital for the next few days as he completes a course of antibiotics.

Confirming the news, the official club website confirmed: "He is progressing well in his recovery.

"Although it is too early to predict the length of his absence, it is likely to be at least two weeks before he is available to return to action."

It means the German will miss the season-opener at newly-promoted Reading on 18 August, and potentially the first Britannia Stadium clash of the campaign with Arsenal eight days later.

At least Pulis has Kightly and Cameron on board with the start of the new season just around the corner.

Kightly quickly agreed personal terms and passed a medical to end a five-and-a-half-year spell at Molineux.

The 26-year-old said: "It's a great club, an established Premier League club, so I am delighted to be here.

"Any footballer wants to play at the highest level and I am grateful to Stoke for giving me the chance to stay in the Premier League.

"The club sold itself to me. What they have achieved over the past few years has been remarkable.

"Then there's the excellent facilities and the supporters. It's definitely a club that is moving in the right direction."

As a winger, Kightly's arrival will further fuel rumours Jermaine Pennant is on his way out of the club, but Pulis simply sees his capture as strengthening the squad.

"There is nothing better than to have strong competition in all areas and Michael's arrival gives us that in the wide positions," said Pulis.

"I've long been an admirer of Michael, not only in terms of him being a provider, but also the fact he gets his share of goals.

"Our two wingers, Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, have been brilliant for this football club over the past few years.

"But they went off the boil in terms of goalscoring last season, so we wanted to address that.

"Competition for places will bring the best out of them again and that is what Michael's presence will give us in that area."

With regard to United States international Cameron, Pulis and chief executive Tony Scholes successfully argued his case at an appeals hearing at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Scholes said: "We are delighted the appeals panel have approved the work permit and we are now in a position to conclude the transfer.

"It's been a difficult period between agreeing the transfer deal and the hearing, most difficult for Geoff in particular because his life has been on hold.

"Thankfully though, we have now progressed to a point where Geoff can focus on the start to his career at the Britannia Stadium."