Stand-in manager McAllister visited Houllier, who has been suffering from chest pains, in hospital on Friday night and spoke to the Frenchman before Saturday's Premier League game at Villa Park. Darren Bent, one of Houllier's January signings, scored his seventh goal in 12 games after Kenwyne Jones had given Stoke the lead. McAllister said: "A few of the staff went to see Gerard (on Saturday) morning. I saw him last night and a couple of times yesterday. "I spoke to him before the kick-off and his main concern as always was the players. He wants them to do well. I'm going to go up to the hospital now. "All the signs are encouraging. He has got a bit of colour in his cheeks and he doesn't look like a guy who has had a tough couple of days." McAllister reaffirmed that Houllier will be guided by the specialists as to when he will be fit enough to return to Villa. He said: "We will be guided by the specialists. We are being totally guided by them. It won't be Gerard or Aston Villa's decision when he comes back. There is no surgery this time. It will be rest and medicine." McAllister insists Villa are looking upwards in the table after a run of eight points from four games has effectively ended any fears of relegation. He said: "We are on a good run at the moment so the place is buzzing. "We need points to catch Bolton. Two or three weeks ago we would have been looking the other way. "We want to keep the run going. Four games unbeaten. Since we lost to Sunderland here in January, we've not done bad." Stoke's main concern is over the fitness of striker Ricardo Fuller who suffered an Achilles injury after appearing as a substitute with the FA Cup final only three weeks away. Manager Tony Pulis said: "We are not sure how bad it is. He's going off to have a scan so we won't know that until Monday. "It is disappointing because Ricardo is a game changer from the bench. He can come on and do special things." Pulis is adamant his players will not ease up before the Wembley clash with Manchester City. He said: "There is a danger you think of Wembley before it comes along and then players take their foot off the pedal. "We must not do it. The Premier League is still our main priority. We still need points."
