Stoke City sign Dynamo Kyiv’s Goran Popov on season-long loan
STOKE City have delved into their Europa League past to sign Dynamo Kyiv left-back Goran Popov on a season-long loan.
The 27-year-old will join the club on Monday and may even be in the running for a shock debut at Reading next Saturday.
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TAKING A POP: Goran Popov will sign for Stoke City on Monday and could make his debut at Reading.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who revealed the signing after last night’s 1-1 draw in Germany against Greuther Furth, said he had been monitoring the Macedonian international since the Europa League clashes with Kyiv last autumn.
“He really impressed me,” said Pulis. “He’s a good player with a great left foot and I think he will go well for us. And 27 is a good age.
“But the problem we’ve got is that he’s going to come and sign on Monday, then he’s off playing for Macedonia on Tuesday.
“He should be fit because he’s been playing in the Europa League already this season.
“He played against Feyenoord and I had him watched. I’ve also watched the tape and he did very well.
“He was impressed with the football club last season and he wants to play in the Premier League. It’s a loan and so it’s a good opportunity to see him. His English is very good.”
Popov, who measures in at around six foot, two inches tall, has already travelled widely during a career in which he has also played for the likes of Greek club Egaleo and Dutch outfit Heerenveen.
He has played more than 40 times for his country since making his debut back in 2004.
Pulis, pictured right, declared himself happy with two of Stoke’s other newcomers, Michael Kightly and Geoff Cameron, after they left their mark on last night’s game.
Kightly scored with his very first touch since signing from Wolves this week, while Cameron impressed in his first appearance after being granted a work permit following his move from Houston Dynamo.
“Kightly was really good,” said Pulis, “and Cameron was excellent.
“He’s a good athlete and he gets round the pitch. I just wish we could have got him in earlier.
“The trouble now is that we’ve got Geoff, Glenn Whelan, Asmir Begovic and others going off to play in internationals.
“It was a tough game to end our pre-season. They had some good players, especially the one in yellow (the referee). I thought he was outstanding. No, I’m only kidding.
“Going forward, I thought we looked really dangerous at times. If you get the ball into Peter Crouch he will always do good stuff.”
Meanwhile, there was good news at home too after it was revealed that Robert Huth hopes to be training by Monday as he recovers from a bout of viral meningitis which left him in hospital this week.
Pulis admitted it was thought the German defender had contracted a much more serious form of the diseased when he was initially taken ill last week.
But he still doubts whether the centre-half can recover his strength in time for the trip to Reading in seven days’ time for Stoke’s Premier League opener.
Pulis, meanwhile, was catching a 6am flight from Nuremburg to watch Reading in pre-season action at home against Crystal Palace today.
Dream debut for Kightly: Green Un Pages 2 3