Ricardo Fuller
#10
Striker
d.o.b: 31/10/79
Signed: August 2006
Games this season: 1/4
Goals this season: 1
Total club games: 133/62
Total club goals: 50
Brought for £500,000 on deadline day August 2006.
Was injured to start with but made his debut at home to former club Preston scoring Stoke's goal in a 1-1 draw.
Had a poor disciplinary record in his first few months and got sent off in November 2006 versus Coventry for using an elbow and also against Luton for shoving a defender in the face.
A magician with the ball and a player who can single handedly turn a game. Upon returning from his suspension for his second red card he either scored or set up nearly every goal for the remainder of the season as Stoke missed out on the play offs on the last day.
He carried this form into his 2nd season and finished with 15 goals, 14 of which had come by February, including a magical 85 yard run from his own penalty area to seal a 4-2 win against Wolves.
Proved himself to be the main man as he scored the Potters first, last and goal of the season during 2008/9, he also won Match of the Day's goal of the month for August with his superb effort in the win against Aston Villa.
Ended the Potters first Premier League season on 11 goals despite starting just over half the games to well and truly exercised the demons of his time at Portsmouth where he netted once in 37 top flight games.
2009/10 saw him hit a bit of a barren run in front of goal, but was still as influential as ever as he helped the Potters to an 11th placed finish with a host of assists and key roles in winning set pieces.
He became more of a super sub over the next 12 months as he hit the wrong side of 30, but continued to be dangerous off the bench before an achilles injury an Villa Park ended his season early.
Is due back shortly after the start of the 2011/12 season but with only Walters and Jones as fit strikers at the club he may just find himself with a bit of action when he returns.