Shawcross Urged To Pick Wales

Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross has been urged by former manager Tony Pulis to give up on his ambition to play for England and switch his international allegiance to Wales.

The centre-back has a single England cap after playing in the 4-2 defeat to Sweden in November 2012, but as that was only a friendly he is still eligible to represent Wales who he played for as a schoolboy.

Shawcross has been consistently overlooked by England manager Roy Hodgson and Welshman Pulis believes the 27-year-old should realistically consider the move if he wants to play international football.

The former Manchester United defender has remained adamant he will continue to fight for a place in Hodgson's squad despite being snubbed.

"I'm convinced he (Shawcross) should be in the England squad and if that's not going to happen, then my attentions would be turned to crossing the border," Pulis told The Sentinel.

"If England don't think he's good enough, Wales certainly do. I know that for a fact.

"He would be joining a Wales team with a genuine chance of qualifying for Euro 2016, so there's some big games to be had if he made that choice.

"I still think his best years are ahead of him. I'd be disappointed if Ryan thinks he's reached the top of his performance levels because he has still to reach his peak and should become better over the next four or five years."

Wales, second in their Euro 2016 qualifying group, are in with a good chance of reaching their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.