Stoke City boss Tony Pulis isn't expected to recall Dave Kitson from his loan at Reading to cover for the injured Mamady Sidibe.

The Sentinel says Stoke's £5.5m record signing is resurrecting his career back at his old club and his recall - which could only be made next week at the earliest anyway - would risk introducing a long face into the Stoke dressing room at a sensitive time of the season.

Sidibe's absence immediately nudges both Henri Camara and Richard Cresswell back up the pecking order as back-up for the current strike-force of James Beattie and Ricardo Fuller.

"Players have come in when called upon and done themselves and the club proud so far this season," said Pulis, "and I'm sure the same will happen if and when Henri and Richard are needed."