DEAN WHITEHEAD has urged Stoke City's vociferous supporters to pump up the volume for their crucial Premier League match against Birmingham City on Tuesday evening . . . as they look to get their season back on track at the Britannia Stadium.

The 28-year-old midfielder has welcomed the prospect of City returning home after a tough run of four away trips in five matches which has been a contributory factor in their slide down the Premier League table in the last month.

However, Whitehead believes that with the fans playing their part, the Potters can revive their fortunes and halt that slide.

"I can't wait to be back at the Britannia Stadium to be honest with you," he told stokecityfc.com. "We have been on the road quite a lot recently, so it will be fantastic for us to come back home with our supporters right behind us.

"Things haven't gone too well recently for one reason or another, but we have got to stand strong, stay together and come through this difficult patch.

"Our supporters are unbelievably good, and we need them to be on their absolute A-game on Tuesday night. We are desperate to go out there and get the three points, and with their support I am fully confident of doing that."

Birmingham City make the short journey up the M6 looking for what would be just their fourth League win in 24 games.

But whilst that statistic doesn't make for impressing reading, the former Sunderland star is adamant that the Potters will have to be at full-tilt if they are to claim maximum points.

"You know what to expect with Birmingham," he added. "They are a very solid and stable team. They don't concede many goals, they like to keep things tight away from home and look to catch you on the break.

"We have got to be good enough to break them down; that will be the key. If we can get at them early on and put them under pressure then hopefully we will get that break - which we haven't had recently."