Stoke City boss Tony Pulis insists it is not too late for Ryan Shawcross to make England's World Cup squad.

The former Manchester United youngster is not even sure he will be in Pulis' starting line-up at Chelsea today, with the Potteries boss unsure of using the defender from the start in such a high-profile match.

Pulis says: "He has trained well all week and is certainly in contention, but I have not decided yet whether to put him straight into the side."

However, that reluctance does not affect Pulis' opinion of the player. He said: "Ryan is one of the best young players in the Premier League in his position, no-one will convince me otherwise.

"He is one of the young players that we will be building this club around over the next five four or five years or so.

"He has already captained this club as a youngster, and I certainly see him as a future long-term captain of Stoke.

"I still think he can make the England World Cup squad, it is still very open and there are always a few injuries at the end of the season so he still has a great chance of being involved, as has Matthew Etherington.

"If I was picking the team then Ryan would go, but I am not picking it, that is up to Fabio Capello. I won't tell him what to do or not to do.

"That is up to him. But as a young player then Shawcross has got what it takes."