Answer
**Leon Cort was Shawcross' defensive partner when Stoke first got promoted to the Premier League in 2008**. Cort, a former England under-21 international, joined Stoke City in 2006 and formed a formidable partnership with Shawcross at the heart of the defence. Cort's physical presence and aerial ability complemented Shawcross's composure and ball-playing skills, helping Stoke to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.