TONY Pulis is hoping to lead his Stoke City side to FA Cup final glory at Wembley Stadium tomorrow with Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell singing his praises.

Jewell, who is expecting to make his first summer signing next week, can’t understand why Pulis has been overlooked when major jobs have come along.

The Blues boss, who admits that he got into management thanks to a lucky break, feels that it is unfair that young British managers get overlooked by big clubs.

“It’s frustrating and maybe unfair that clubs look for big names, often from abroad, to take on the big jobs here,” said Jewell.

“Why don’t the young British managers get a chance at those clubs?

“I’ve got nothing against Roberto Mancini at all, but why weren’t Tony Pulis and David Moyes mentioned for a job like Manchester City.

“The job that Tony has done at Stoke and Moysie has done at Everton.

“They’ve done brilliant jobs.”

And Jewell, who is expecting Colin Healy to sign a new deal next week to follow on from Arran Lee-Barrett putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal yesterday, is also a big admirer of Blackpool’s Ian Holloway.

“He has upped his profile this year after having a couple of knockbacks in his time,” added Jewell.

“If he keeps Blackpool up this season he would be my manager of the year.”

Jewell, who was a lower league striker with Wigan Athletic and Bradford City (406 appearances, 91 goals), was given his chance when the latter club suddenly dismissed Chris Kamara in 1998 when he was 34.

And he says that you don’t have to have been a good player to be a good manager, explaining:

“It doesn’t always work that because you were a top player, you are going to be a top manager.

“I don’t remember Arsene Wenger, or Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez or Sir Alex Ferguson even playing for too many top teams.

“I wasn’t a great player by any stretch of the imagination, but in a way that made me more determined to make my name as a manager.

“I knew that when I got a chance I had to make it work.

“My chance came out of the blue.

“Chris Kamara got sacked at Bradford, which was a surprise to everyone. I took over for a game, at Stockport.

“I changed the system and we won 2-1.

“Now if I lost that game I probably wouldn’t have got the job.

“It was a lucky break for me and when you get that break, you have to make it count.”

Former Town striker Jon Walters will be a key player for Stoke tomorrow having become a key player for the Premier League outfit following his move from Portman Road last August.

Walters netted twice in the 5-0 semi-final victory over Bolton Wanderers, and will be after more Wembley goals tomorrow when Pulis will be pitting his wits against Mancini’s million dollar Manchester City.