Stoke's

Stoke's imposing reputation owes much to the sheer size of its squad.

Stoke Plays the Ugly Bug Ball Jonathan Clegg 2011

"Because of Stoke's style, you have to be ready to compete with the physical challenge they give you," said Everton manager David Moyes, whose team lost 1-0 at Stoke at the start of this month.

Stoke Plays the Ugly Bug Ball Jonathan Clegg 2011

Valencia's goalscorer Mehmet Topal, left, battles for the ball with Stoke's Matthew Etherington.

Stoke City 0-1 Valencia | Europa League last-32 1st leg match report 2012

Some 36% of the team's goals so far have come from headers, the highest proportion in the Premier League, while headers have also accounted for 16 of Stoke's 53 shots in the Europa League, the second-highest percentage in the competition behind Besiktas.

Stoke Plays the Ugly Bug Ball Jonathan Clegg 2011

That helped to nullify Stoke's main threat and, although Jon Walters had an early chance that he dragged wide and Peter Crouch acrobatically volleyed over later in the first half, the home side created little else against a Valencia team that looked menacing whenever they broke forward.

Stoke City 0-1 Valencia | Europa League last-32 1st leg match report 2012

Etherington was carried off on a stretcher after he collapsed in agony during Stoke's victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday, and the club's worst fears were realised when they received the scan results.

Stoke City's Matthew Etherington likely to miss FA Cup final 2011

Stoke's Tony Pulis is hoping to be one of the very few managers to have won an FA Cup final wearing a tracksuit.

Vote for winners in sharp suits, not the wishy-washy alternative | Simon Burnton 2011

Pulis also pointed out that Stoke's match at Manchester City is not the only game that could come under scrutiny.

Stoke's Tony Pulis tells Spurs to mind their own business over game switch 2011

Yet a torn hamstring can often take up to six weeks to heal, leaving Etherington with insufficient time to recover unless Stoke's medical team can perform a minor miracle.

Stoke City's Matthew Etherington likely to miss FA Cup final 2011

When combined with the dimensions of Stoke's Britannia Stadium pitch, which is the smallest permissible under UEFA rules at just 100 meters long by 64 meters wide, the team's intensity and physical stature mean Stoke's games often resemble a pitch battle waged on a space the size of a postage stamp.

Stoke Plays the Ugly Bug Ball Jonathan Clegg 2011