Andy Wilkinson: 'Stoke City should be feared'

Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson thinks that his team have developed to a stage where they should be feared by any opposition in the Premier League.

Tony Pulis has established the Potters as a mainstay in the top tier of English football over the past five years, an achievement Wilkinson believes is overlooked.

The 28-year-old is adamant that Stoke can look forward to this weekend's trip to Old Trafford safe in the knowledge that they can compete against Manchester United.

He told Sky Sports News: "You dream of playing at places like [Old Trafford], but once you get out there you have to get on and do your best.

"This club has come so far in the last five years it's unbelievable, with the players we've got here. We shouldn't be afraid to go anywhere and teams should be afraid of us.

"It's never going to be easy to go to the big clubs, but the gaffer gets us really well organised. We are always hard to play against because we give everything we've got."

Wilkinson make his return against United after completing a three-match ban for elbowing Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli last month.