Sonko’s Potters career has been heavily disrupted by injury since his £2million summer move from Reading and the defender made just his fourth appearance for the club in Tuesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final defeat to Derby.

He was taken off injured in two of his previous games, against Liverpool and Spurs, but the 28-year-old is feeling fitter than ever and ready to fight for his place in the first team.

Sonko could be handed a chance alongside Abdoulaye Faye at Newcastle on Saturday, but the Senegal star insists he will be cheering on his team-mates if Tony Pulis opts for Leon Cort instead in the absence of Ryan Shawcross.

He said: “I was happy to be out there against Derby and come out without an injury and I’m hoping this will be the start of the season for me. I’m feeling better physically than I have done since coming here.

“I would love to play against Newcastle but I’ll let the manager decide. If I’m picked then I’ll be happy and I’ll do my best but if he picks someone else then I’ll be on the sideline cheering.

“All of us players on the fringes of the team have got to be patient. It’s a team game and the matches are so hard nowadays that players can pick up injuries at any point so you’ve got to stay patient and be ready if needed.

“As a footballer you have to understand that sometimes you will be out of the team. I don’t like sitting on the bench but if I’m in the team then someone else is on the bench.

“If I am good enough for a place then I will come through it and play. And if I come in and keep my place then fair play to me. There’s a lot of things I haven’t been able to show the fans yet so I’ll be happy if I can play and do that.”

Stoke travel to Newcastle on Saturday as one of just three sides yet to record an away victory in the Premier League but Sonko believes the Potters can put an end to that with a good start at St James’ Park.

“Newcastle is one of those places that if you play well from the start and cause them problems then their fans can quickly turn against them and start booing. We have to go there and make it happen because then we can win the game.

“It is important we start picking up points away from home because, although we’re doing really well at the Britannia, you never know how long that will last.”

Sonko has added incentive to pick up a victory on Tyneside as he will be coming up against his friend and Senegal team-mate Habib Beye.

Sonko added: “I played against Habib when I was at Reading, and he beat me 3-1, we have already been sending each other messages about this game.

“He keeps telling me we cannot win, because they are doing well. But although that is true, we need the points away from home and we must get something.

“We are three points ahead of them and we must maintain that gap with a draw, at least. We must have a positive approach.

“Habib is a good player, a quiet lad who sticks to his job and works well. He has a lot of pace and that helps him.”