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Potters to be boosted by striker's Mali snub
Stoke City, 10:56, December 10, 2009 ,
Mama Sidibi is set to turn down the chance of playing for Mali in the African Cup of Nations in order to boost Stoke's striker options.
The 29-year-old could miss up to four Premier League matches - at Burnley on January 9, the home game with Liverpool on January 16, Manchester City's visit to the Britannia on January 26 and the televised game at Sunderland on February 1 - depending on how far Mali progress in Angola.
With striker James Beattie's future at the club still uncertain following his bust-up with boss Tony Pulis after the Arsenal defeat last Saturday and the possibility of Dave Kitson extending his loan stay at Middlesbrough, that would leave just Tuncay and Ricardo Fuller available next month. Therefore it has been revealed that Sidibe might snub his country to stay and boost Pulis' forward options.
The Potters were already boosted by the news that Senegal failed to qualify for the 16-team tournament which means captain Abdoulaye Faye and midfielder Salif Diao will also be staying put next month.