James Beattie is eager for Dave Kitson to break his Stoke City Football Club duck.

The Britannia Stadium club smashed their transfer record last summer, when they paid Reading £5.5million to take him from the Madejski Stadium.

However, Kitson had a disappointing time at the Premier League new boys and failed to score a single goal before being shipped off back to the Royals in a New Year loan transfer.

The 29-year-old is back at City preparing for the new season, and his potential strike partner, the hugely popular Beattie, is eager for him to get off the mark.

"I really hope our fans will give him a chance because every player deserves that," Beattie told The Stoke Sentinel. "I know how brilliant the supporters have been towards me.

“I can tell you it makes a hell of a difference, especially to a striker looking for goals. It would be great to think they can give Dave the same backing now he's back.

"Support like that can work wonders for your confidence. That first goal is important for a striker. I remember how great I felt when I got that first one at Tottenham Hotspur.

"I'm sure Dave would feel a million times better if he sticks one in early on – and I'm sure our fans will be hoping the same. But they must give him a chance to show his best."