Following the £2million signing of Ibrahima Sonko from Reading, former Manchester United youngster Shawcross - who was dropped for Stoke's last match, the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough - now faces competition from five senior centre-backs.

But Pulis said: "There's no chance of him leaving this year. Ryan is a big part of what we are trying to do here."

Although transfer deadline day was Monday last week, business has now re-opened for lower-league clubs wanting to borrow  Barclays Premier League players.

great relish

And newly-promoted Stoke are expected to part with more than one fringe player to lighten a senior squad now numbering 26.

But Pulis said: "I have great respect for Ryan as a person and for what he has achieved with us so far. There's no way he's leaving this football club in this loan window.

"At the end of the window we will obviously take stock of everything at the club, but I'm hoping Ryan will have shown the right spirit, character and work ethic to get back in the team.

"That is the challenge in front of him now and it's one I'm sure he will tackle with great relish because he's that kind of character.

"We are not going to let players go who are in or around the team."