Thomas Sorensen has praised striker James Beattie following his January move from Sheffield United. Beattie made a £3.5 million switch to the Potters and on Saturday scored his sixth goal in 10 games for Tony Pulis's side in a vital 2-0 win at bottom-placed West Brom.

Goalkeeper Sorensen said: "It is great to have someone who can score goals. James has been in great form. That is what you need. You need good defending and you need the people up front to score goals.

"That is the difference between us and West Brom. They play some good football but leak too many goals and haven't scored enough - and that is credit to the way we have played.

"He has made an instant impact. We knew what we were getting when we bought him. It was a great spot by the manager and give him some credit.

"He is a proven player and that is what you need, someone who can come in who takes responsibility and gives you crucial goals and he has done that.

"He was in the Championship and maybe people were saying his best years were behind him - but they say that about a lot of people.

"Sometimes when you are given a chance you need to take it and he has definitely taken his chance, and hopefully he will grab a few more goals before the end of the season."

Midfielder Liam Lawrence echoed Sorensen's sentiments and said: "James has been massive for us. If we stay up it is going to be £3.5 million, peanuts, well spent.

"He is on fire. He was playing in the Championship but he is proven in this league and he went down to Sheffield United and he was still getting 20 goals a season.

"He has come back and I think he will get double figures for us before the end of the season. He has been fantastic.

"A player sometimes takes a bit of time to settle but he has done fantastically and if he keeps things going, we have got every chance of doing that."