Mamady Sidibe is set to turn out for Stoke reserves on Wednesday as he continues his rehabilitation after more than a year of injury problems.
Sidibe snapped his Achilles tendon in the Potters' Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham in August 2010 before suffering the same injury again in training the following February.
Manager Tony Pulis, who included the Malian striker in his 25-man league squad for this season, told The Sentinel: "It will be fantastic to see him back playing again after everything he's been through."
The 31-year-old forward has been given the go-ahead to feature for Stoke's second string against Nottingham Forest.
Pulis said: "We've obviously kept a close eye on his progress and not rushed anything.
"He's such a lovely lad and certainly hasn't deserved what's happened to him with these injuries.
"He's due some good luck at long last and we are all keeping our fingers crossed it starts from Wednesday."
Source: PA
