Pulis can see what Barclays Premier League status means to the Potteries by the number of children wearing his side's red and white shirts rather than the distinctive kits of Manchester United and Liverpool.

The Welshman earned huge praise for guiding Stoke to safety last term when most pundits expected an instant slide back into the Championship.

Already almost 20,000 season tickets have been sold for the Britannia Stadium to see whether the top-flight adventure can continue in a new campaign that opens against Burnley on 15th August.

Pulis realises how important Barclays Premier League status is at Stoke and while he accepts plenty of work still lies ahead, he can already see the benefits.

"We are already seeing how our fan base is growing," he said. "Just seeing little kiddies going about town in Stoke tops, not United or Liverpool, rams it home just what progress we have made so far.

"They are now talking about their hometown club playing the big boys and they are not looking at it in awe."