A series of injuries to Stoke striker Mamady Sidibe has not prevented Potters boss Tony Pulis from supporting the Mali international. Pulis insists he can still have a future at the Britannia Stadium despite the striker suffering a second ruptured Achilles tendon in six months.
The 31-year-old was working his way back to fitness after sustaining the original injury against Tottenham in August and scored on his comeback for the reserves last Tuesday, but only 48 hours later he snapped the tendon again in training and will now be sidelined until the start of next season.
Pulis told www.stokecityfc.com: "It's the same ankle but higher up on the tendon this time.
"It's wretched luck for the lad, who has had more than his fair share of injury setbacks over the past two years.
"But there is no reason why he can't battle his way back to full fitness. I know he has the determination and dedication to do it, and we will give him all the support that he needs.
"He would definitely have played some part in the second half of our season and he was very close to being ready for inclusion in the squad so this is a massive blow for him and us."
