Mame Diouf has admitted he wanted to leave Stoke City last season.

The fan favourite endured a tough year both on and off the pitch. A striker his whole life, Diouf was surprisingly used as a wing-back for the first time in February 2016.

His frustration from a lack of action off the pitch was compounded when he lost his mother, Gnilane, at the Hajj pilgrimage.

However, after an intervention from his family, Diouf decided to remain at the club.

"You question a lot of things and it does affect you both professionally and as an individual," he said in an interview for Stoke's match day magazine.

"It wasn't a good time. I had bad times in my job and things happened away from the pitch which were hard for me, but thanks to God, I had my family with me, my children. I would be grumpy at Stoke, knowing I wasn't going to be involved at the weekend, so having that release with my family, really did help me significantly.

"It's all about family for me. My kids are settling down and having fun and my wife has a lot of friends where we are too. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture and realise it isn't only about me, there are other people whose lives would be affected if I was to move."

"Were there occasions when I thought about leaving? Of course and at many times last season I really wanted to go. It didn't happen though and I was never going to force anything or do anything I would regret. That just isn't who I am.

"I decided to leave it and see what happens and thankfully things have improved for me. I am playing, I am happy with everything away from the pitch too. We are really settled. They were really important factor behind why I signed the new contract. I am looking forward to the future again now."