ON-LOAN Stoke City defender Ryan Shotton is desperate to return to Tranmere in the New Year so he can try and book his place at Wembley with the club.

Right-back Shotton headed in the winning goal against Morecambe at Prenton Park on Tuesday to earn Rovers a place in the Northern semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The 20-year-old has just begun the third and final month at Tranmere – the maximum time he can remain at the club on a short term loan – and Football League regulations stipulate he must return to the Britannia Stadium at the end of November.

However, manager Ronnie Moore would be able to bring Shotton back on a longer loan basis for the remainder of the season during the January transfer window and Shotton is determined to return to the Wirral in the New Year, especially if a trip to Wembley is on the horizon.

He said: “I’ve not spoken to Ronnie at the moment but it’s a very good possibility – I’d like to come back in January.

“Obviously I can’t re-sign at the end of this month because of the rules but as soon as the end of December comes I’ll be speaking to Ronnie to try and come back.

“I definitely want to be back here if we make it to Wembley. To play there is everyone’s dream and it’s a great opportunity for us all.”

Back in the Potteries, it’s been a busy week for Tony Pulis who has been defending accusations from Arsene Wenger that Stoke deliberately fouled his players in their memorable 2-1 win over Arsenal which took them up to 12th in the Premier League table.

However, once the Stoke manager has dealt with the spat with the Frenchman, Shotton is expecting a call.

He said: “I spoke to Tony last week and he told me to give him a call after the game so I’ll be having a word with him soon.

“He’s been telling me to keep working hard and it’s going well.

“The Stoke first team are doing well and the players out on loan are doing well so it’s good all-round.”

Rovers will have to tune into Soccer AM on Saturday, November 29 to see who their opponents are in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern semi-finals but Shotton believes they’ll fancy their chances with a couple of League Two sides Darlington and Rotherham in their section.

He added: “We’ve said from the start we want to get there because it’s a very good possibility. We’re a good League One side and we want to push to Wembley – it’s really close.

“Leicester have been knocked out so there’s only really Scunthorpe left in there. Apart from them, I think we could really do something.”

Shotton’s goal against Morecambe in Tuesday’s Northern quarter-final was his fourth of the season for Tranmere and makes him joint top scorer alongside Bas Savage and Chris Shuker but as a defender he insists that preventing goals at the other end remain his priority.

He said: “I knew I could flick it on (Charlie Barnett’s free-kick), it was whether the keeper was going to get there before me.

“I think we’ve clashed and that’s why it’s gone up in the air and fortunately it’s looped in.

“It’s not bad for a defender to be honest – let’s hope it keeps going.

“The clean sheets have been the main thing we’ve been working on, if a defender scores it’s a bonus.

“You want everyone on your team to score goals.

“The clean sheets have played a big part of ensuring we are where we are.

“To lose 1-0 on Saturday (at MK Dons) wasn’t a reflection on how we played, it was a poor set-piece we conceded from. We played well and were unfortunate to lose.”