Stoke City boss Tony Pulis says Mamady Sidibe is under no pressure as he returns from long-term injury.

Sidibe continues recovering from a seven-month cruciate knee ligament injury.

"I was at Fulham on Monday and so didn't see Mama's return," said the City manager, "but I'm told he did all right in the circumstances.

"They said he got in a right good tackle early on and never flinched, so that suggests his mind and body is on course.

"You never know how long these things can take, so we're not pressuring him with any kind of time frame. We've simply got him pencilled in for the next reserve game in a fortnight and then we'll take things from there."