Quashie thanks Pulis

[Adalon]

NIGEL Quashie will go up against the man who saved his career when
Albion visit Stoke tomorrow (Saturday, ko 3pm).

The Baggies midfielder views Potter's boss Tony Pulis as a father figure after he helped him through his darkest days when his baby son Tyler died in 1999.

At a time when Quashie was considering quitting the game altogether, then-Portsmouth manager Pulis took him to Fratton Park from Nottingham Forest and got him back on track.

"I was having a difficult time in my career," said the Scotland international.

"I had a big move to Nottingham Forest and it broke down because my son died at the time and Tony was the one to say to me he wanted to get me right as a person.

"I have the utmost respect for him.

"He's a great man and a great person.

"David Platt was brilliant at Forest.

"He didn't want me to go but he told me to do what was best for my life.

"Tony's man-handling is excellent and his attitude towards his players is first class.

"I can't thank him enough.

"If it wasn't for him I don't think I would be playing now.

"He organised everything for me to get myself right and try and get me back mentally.

"I didn't expect to be able to do that but I managed to and I think he is one person in my life who has really offered me stability.

"I went through a three or four-month period of seeing someone two or three times as week and managed to get myself mentally right to go in and train and play every day.

Tony Pulis
Quashie: "I haven't had a father in my life and I can't thank Tony enough for what he did for me."
"I was lucky enough to come through it and I'm grateful for that.

"I haven't had a father in my life and I can't thank Tony enough for what he did for me.

"He didn't think about the club or the team, he thought about me as a person and what he thought he could do to make me better."

The 28-year-old midfield dynamo is expecting a battle at The Britannia Stadium with the seventh-placed Potters going into the game on the back of three straight wins.

"Going to Stoke isn't going to be easy," Quashie added.

"We'll have to be at our best and, if we can carry our form over from the Burnley game, I'm sure we're more than capable of winning the game.

"I know they'll be very organised because Tony knows what he wants from his teams.

"I can only compliment Tony on the way he takes players and makes them fit into a side to make it better.

"He's well organised, they'll be prepared and mentally and physically right for the game.

"Every club he's been at he has been able to put results together.

"His basic knowledge of the game is fantastic."

never knew Pulis managed Pompy :/