GLENN WHELAN IS relishing the opportunity to captain Stoke City against former club Manchester City in tomorrow night’s Premier League game.
The 61-cap Irish international midfielder, who recently signed a new deal which will keep him with Stoke until 2017, came through the youth ranks in the blue half of Manchester after making the move from Cherry Orchard.
With regular Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross still out injured, Whelan will wear the captain’s armband when his ex-employers visit the Britannia Stadium.
“It’s a proud moment, a special moment for myself. No-one can take this away from me,” Whelan told The Stoke Sentinel.
“Obviously Ryan is missing and he’s been a man mountain for this team ever since I’ve been here and trying to emulate him is big shoes to fill, but hopefully I’ve done it a bit.
“Obviously they are champions and have some top-quality players, but playing at home against one of the big boys is what we all want to do.
“We always seemed to have done alright against them and that’s obviously where I first started out. I’ve got a lot of time for the people there, but come Wednesday we are looking to put in a performance and get a result.”
Stoke, who are currently in tenth place in the Premier League table, have never lost at home to Manchester City in the Premier League.