Pompey on alert for Pugh and Tonge

Pompey have been put on alert after Stoke duo Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge were told they could leave on loan.

The midfield pair have long been linked with switches to Fratton Park.

Now Potters boss Tony Pulis has publically declared he is willing to do business with any interested party.

The development comes after Pugh and Tonge were left out of Stoke’s 25-man Premier League squad.

They were among five Britannia Stadium players omitted.

The others are winger Tom Soares, defender Danny Collins and former Southampton right-back Andrew Davies.

Steve Cotterill has made no secret of his desire to bring in loan players from the Premier League to bolster his 19-man squad.

The emergency loan window opens on Thursday and will remain so until November 24.

Pompey are expected to be among those outside of the top flight doing business.

And Pugh and Tonge are two players who are now officially up for grabs.

Pulis said: ‘These are lads who have not been playing enough recently and so we want to get them out and playing football until Christmas.

‘Danny Pugh has been knocking on my door to go out and I’ve relented because he’s such a great lad.

‘It’s important for Danny Collins to be playing at his age and because he’s in the Welsh squad.

‘It’s the same for Tom (Soares) and Tongy (Michael Tonge). I’m surprised no-one has come in for Tongy because he’s had a good pre-season and looked as sharp as at any time with us.’