Stoke will become the first club to face City since Hughes was controversially sacked as manager this week, with Italian Roberto Mancini taking over. Pulis has warned his own players not to get caught up in the "circus" surrounding the Eastlands outfit on Boxing Day, a match that is already a sell-out. Pulis has tremendous sympathy for Hughes and his backroom staff, all axed in the dramatic hours that followed Manchester City's 4-3 win over Sunderland last Saturday. Pulis said: "I am disappointed because it's a British manager that has been sacked and disappointed because Mark was never given the time or the opportunity. "There's no way in a million years you can have an effect on a club in a year, even with all the money Mark had to spend. "But Manchester City are now operating on a different level and so they have to get used to the new pressures that come with that different level. "They are now expected to win every week and that is a new pressure to live with. "Mark brought a lot of players in but has not had the opportunity to find his best team and strike the right balance." Pulis added: "I know one of the lads who worked under Mark very well, and they are devastated that they are no longer a part of what is going on there because they believe Manchester City are going onwards and upwards in the next year or so. "Manchester City have five or six top, top players up front who are as good as anything, if not better than most in the Premier League. "Conceding goals has been their big stumbling block this season and Mark must be desperately disappointed that he hasn't had the opportunity to get that right. But I am sure he will be back because he has proved himself to be a decent manager." He added: "As for us, we cannot afford to get wrapped up in the circus that will be going on at City this weekend, and leading up to the game." Pulis will have defender Robert Huth back from suspension but faces a late decision over Ryan Shawcross' fitness as the former Manchester United youngster battles a groin problem. And Pulis has mixed feelings about the task facing his side, saying: "It is never easy going to a club where the manager has just changed, you just do not know what you are going to be facing. "There is bound to be some sort of reaction, good or bad, but you can toss a coin which way it will affect them. "I am sure they will be fired up for it and if they start well, we could be in for a very difficult afternoon. But if they don't, then it could work in our favour." Pulis, however, has his own problems with Stoke having won just one of their last eight games while slipping to 11th in the table. He added: "We need to score more goals, and it isn't as if we are not creating the chances. There were enough of them to win the game at Aston Villa last weekend. We have to show a bit more care with our final ball and our finishing." Stoke have been boosted by the decision of striker Mamady Sidibe to tell Mali he does not want to be considered for the African Nations Cup, which starts early next month. The 30-year-old admits he does not believe he will be called up, but has pointedly ruled himself out of the tournament. Sidibe has only just won back his place in the Stoke attack after being out for seven months with a cruciate knee ligament injury. He said: "I have had a chat with the Mali manager and given him my opinion. "I have just come back from the injury and I think it would be too much for me to go and play there. "Also, I have just come back into the team here and I want to carry that on and keep fit. I missed all the qualification games for the national team and so I don't think it would be fair to go like that. "The (Mali) manager understands my view and at the moment he is all right (about it)."
