Boss Pulis backs Stoke youngster Cuvelier
442 Staff - Wednesday 13 June 2012, 16:41
Tony Pulis has backed youngster Florent Cuvelier to became a mainstay in the Stoke City first team, but not before a further loan spell next season.
The 19-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance for the Potters since his arrival from Portsmouth in 2010, but spent last season on loan with League One side Walsall.
During his time with the Saddlers, Cuvelier earned rave reviews for his performances and ended his spell with the club with four goals in 18 appearances.
The former Mouscron trainee is expected to be sent out on loan again next season, but Pulis insists he has a future at the Britannia Stadium and highlighted the impact Andy Wilkinson, Carl Dickinson and Ryan Shotton made after returning from similar spells away from the club.
"All of them were nowhere near our first team but they went out on loan and showed they could swim," Pulis told the Sentinel.
"Some maintain that level and some drop off, I accept that, but you have to get them out there to test them.
"If we think they are good enough, then we should be getting them out playing football.
"That's why we got him [Cuvelier] out on loan to Walsall in January and he did brilliantly there. But until that point he was struggling in our reserve games.
"It just shows that the quicker we can get them out into league football the better because it either makes or breaks them.
"He's done smashing at Walsall and we will look to get him out again because he doesn't need to be hanging around the reserves.
"Wherever he goes, he needs to be involved; he needs to be at the cutting edge."