Salif Diao insists he's happy with his lot at Stoke City.

The former Liverpool player admitted he had no qualms with Tony Pulis' decision to drop him but hopes he can now find some form.

He said: "I think in the last two or three weeks I haven't really been in the right shape. I played very badly - I think that was my worst game, at Sunderland, since I have been in England. The confidence was not there so I think the gaffer did well to put me out.

"There is a lot of competition for the place. You play badly and someone else plays, you play well and you carry on playing. I just made sure while I wasn't in for the last few games that I worked very hard on the side and waited for my chance to come back and to make sure I delivered what the gaffer and fans are expecting from me."

Diao came to the Premier League when he was signed by Liverpool for £5million after impressing in the 2002 World Cup.

He failed to make an impact at Anfield and ended up at Stoke on a free transfer after spells at Birmingham and Portsmouth.

He is now happy with Stoke, where he feels Pulis has created an outstanding team spirit.

Diao said: "He has made the difference as a man-manager, that is very important in this modern game. You need a manager who really knows how to manage his players and I think he is doing it very well.

"The other thing that makes Stoke strong is that it is about the team, not the individuals."