Potters to fight for Shawcross

Published Dec. 16, 2010 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

The 23-year-old defender has emerged as one of the best young centre-backs in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons and he earned a first call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad last term. Speculation regarding Shawcross' future has intensified as his good form has continued, with a number of clubs reportedly monitoring the situation. Coates has not been surprised by the transfer talk but maintains that the Potters will fight to keep a player who has flourished at the Britannia Stadium. "He's a good player, so there is always going to be interest in good players," Coates said in the Daily Mirror. "But Ryan is our player and that is how we intend to keep it. He's not for sale. "He's very settled in the area with his young family. I think that everyone can see he is advancing his career with us after joining us at an early age and progressing. "We are good for him and he is good for us - and that is always the perfect partnership." Shawcross has been at Stoke since 2007, joining on an initial loan deal from Manchester United before making the move permanent the following year. He was handed the Stoke captaincy earlier this season and manager Tony Pulis believes the armband could help him become an even better player. "I gave it to him to take him up to the next level because he's a quiet lad," said Pulis. "You hope he comes out of his shell a little bit and it will become a strength of his - being a leader and not just a player."