Stoke benefit from winter respite

Long-term casualty Mamady Sidibe will be the only absentee from Stoke City’s squad for their Boxing Day battle at Blackburn Rovers.

Sidibe has now stepped up his recuperation from the snapped Achilles tendon he suffered against Tottenham in the second game of the season.

And Stoke manager Tony Pulis says the big freeze has helped some of his other players to make full recoveries from injury and illness.

Andy Wilkinson (knee), Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) and Jon Walters (flu) were all under treatment ahead of last Saturday’s postponed game at Arsenal- but the extra time off has allowed them to fully recover.

Pulis said: “It’s been a frustrating time in terms of a lack of football, but there is only Mama in the treatment room now and everyone else is fit and raring to go.”

The Stoke players were given two days off this week as the sub-zero temperatures continued to grip the club’s new training facilities at Clayton Wood.

“We’ve had to use our indoor facilities and the Astroturf for training, and when you do that there is more chance of picking up injuries,” Pulis said.

“The players are at the peak of their fitness levels so a couple of days off won’t do them any harm, especially with so many fixtures coming up over Christmas.”

The Stoke boss has told his players to forget about the ‘Sam Allardyce factor’ after his shock sacking opened the door for coach Steve Kean to take over at Blackburn for the rest of the season.

“Managers only used to get sacked because of poor results, but big Sam and Chris Hughton (Newcastle United) have lost their jobs just because the owners of their clubs didn’t fancy them anymore.”

“Football is a mad world these days and nothing really surprises me. I’m just very pleased that Stoke City are owned by Peter Coates and his family who understand the game and remain rock solid behind the scenes.”