Sidibe Undergoes OperationPosted on: Mon 23 Aug 2010
MAMADY SIDIBE was today undergoing surgery on his snapped Achilles tendon . . . as Tony Pulis stepped up his bid to strengthen Stoke City's squad.
The 30-year-old Malian international was having an operation in London on the damaged Achilles which he suffered just minutes after being introduced as a second half substitute in the Barclays Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
The injury will sideline Sidibe for the rest of the season, a blow which has heightened Pulis' determination to bring in new players to bolster his squad in the countdown to the transfer deadline of the summer window next Tuesday afternoon.
City's manager had already indicated that he wanted to bring four players before the deadline and he said today: "The fact that we have lost Kenwyne and now Mama in our first two matches shows how lightweight we are in certain areas of the squad.
"So we will be looking to address that situation before the deadline and, as I have stated before, it is important that we bring more goals to the team."
In reflecting on the two defeats and two injuries, Pulis said: "This happens in football, you have a run of bad luck, just as you then have a run of good luck."
Pulis has indicated once again that he will not rush back club record signing Jones from the ankle injury he sustained in the Wolves match.
The £8 million striker will not figure in the Carling Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town and it is "touch and go" whether he will figure against Chelsea.
"We are just so relieved that we are not talking in the same way about Kenwyne as Mama in terms of his lay-off," said Pulis. "Nevetheless, we want to make absolutely sure that he is right before he comes back and due to the international break, he would have a couple more weeks after Chelsea if he is not ready for that match."
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