Stoke boss Tony Pulis has revealed that January signing Brek Shea is unlikely to make his full debut for the club this season.
The winger arrived from FC Dallas for £2.5 million during the mid-season transfer window but has made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League since.
And Pulis has explained that the USA international is still some way short of full fitness, meaning he will not be thrown in at the deep end in the remaining games.
"Brek hasn't been anywhere near it," he said.
"We've looked at Brek and he's a smashing lad but fitness wise he came to the club when he'd just got over an injury, he'd been out for months.
"He's come here and I think he's enjoyed it but he's found it difficult at times. It's just making sure we look after him, we manage him well enough and then, when his time comes, his time comes.
"He was always one for next season. The football club didn't buy Brek to come in and change water into wine, that was never going to be the case. Him and (Jack) Butland in the January window were signings for the future, they weren't signings to help the team at that moment.
"Brek's only 23 years of age, he's come over from America and it's getting used to everything, getting used to the weather, the set-up. People sometimes don't take that into consideration."
The Welshman also called for his squad to end the season on a high by winning their two remaining away games.
"The performances we've put in away from home have been good but we could do with two really good performances at Sunderland and Southampton," he added.
"The Tottenham game will look after itself because it will be a fantastic occasion for the football club being the 150th anniversary. There's loads of stuff going on and we entertain one of the top teams in Europe."
