Tony Pulis thinks Ryan Shawcross should switch international allegiance

Former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is under the impression that Ryan Shawcross' international career would benefit from switching allegiances.

Shawcross, who spent six seasons playing under Pulis before the manager left Stoke in 2013, has played in only one friendly for England. Though, after having represented Wales at the schoolboy level, he holds the option of teaming up with the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

"If England don't think he's good, Wales certainly do," Pulis said, according to the BBC. "I'm convinced he should be in the England squad and if that's not going to happen then my attentions would be turned to crossing the border."

Pulis continued: "He would be joining a Wales team with a genuine chance of qualifying for Euro 2016, so there's some big games to be had if he made that choice. I still think his best years are ahead of him. I'd be disappointed if Ryan thinks he's reached the top of his performance levels. He has to reach his peak and should become better over the next four or five years.

Back in 2012, Shawcross declined an invitation from manager Chris Coleman to represent Wales as he considered himself to be English and not Welsh.