STOKE City are trying to ensure that Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller’s shoulder troubles are resolved ahead of their clash against Manchester United this weekend.

Fuller sustained the injury for the first time when he was brought on in the 50th minute against Newcastle on September 26, and the shoulder has not had sufficient time to heal.

And manager Tony Pulis believes Fuller’s international duty for Jamaica on October 10 against Trinidad and Tobago has not helped The Potters’ most potent attacking weapon.

“The problem is, when they go away on international duty they are taken away from what we do on strengthening work, like Ric on his shoulder,” the Stoke City manager told The Sentinel newspaper.

“If they’re away for 10 days you don’t know what they’re doing,” he added.

The 30-year-old, six-foot, three-inch Jamaican is seen as the key to Stoke City remaining in the Barclay’s English Premier League. Fuller has so far scored only one goal in eight matches — six of which when he was brought on as a substitute.

“He’s the ace in the pack for us when you need him,” said the 52-year-old Welshman who is in his second spell as manager of the English club.

“If you play him (Fuller) for 30 or 40 minutes, he will do two or three things, either create or score,” explained Pulis. “He’s fallen heavily on the elbow (in a 1-2 away defeat to Bolton) and so the shoulder has most probably popped out again,” he added.

Stoke City are in ninth place of the 20-team English Premier League.

Fuller, a former ace for former national champions Tivoli Gardens, has 60 caps and 11 goals for the Reggae Boyz.