Source: Daily_Mail
Striker Beattie beaten by knee injury as Stoke career looks over
James Beattie has almost certainly played his last game for Stoke after it was revealed he will be sidelined for six weeks following surgery on his knee cartilage. [LNB]He has been out of favour since his bust-up with manager Tony Pulis at Arsenal in December over time off for a team Christmas party, and almost joined Fulham for £3million in the January transfer window. [LNB]Since then, the 32-year-old former England striker has started just one Barclays Premier League game and made six appearances as a substitute, and is now unlikely to play again this season. [LNB] Beatt it: Beattie's Stoke career looks over with the striker sidelined for six weeks[LNB]Pulis said: 'James has just had an operation to have a knee meniscus cleared up. He'll be six weeks out. We've got two months left so it's all about his rehab now.' [LNB]Praise: Stoke boss Tony Pulis admires Aston Villa[LNB]The Stoke boss admitted he had faced new problems in his second year in the league, but looks likely to keep the club up again. [LNB]He added: 'There are other issues outside of the Beattie incident. The second year holds different problems and it's been more difficult to manage this season than it was last year. [LNB]'That "second year syndrome" is certainly there, and there are pitfalls... You learn as you go along, but for me it's been a much tougher year.' [LNB]Stoke could have a big say in who finishes fourth this season, with Aston Villa and Tottenham due at the Britannia Stadium in the next week. Pulis admits he is a big admirer of Martin O'Neill's team, who his side face on Saturday. [LNB]'I'd pay to go and watch Villa every week and I've got a lot of time for Martin,' he said. [LNB] 'He's got balance in the team and spent good money on Downing, Milner and Young.[LNB]'There are so many teams fighting for fourth but Villa and Spurs have caught up and it wouldn't surprise me at all if either of them got fourth.'[LNB] Stoke City forward Tuncay set to take Middlesbrough to court over unpaid feesPulis to offer Pennant £1.5m escape route from Real Zaragoza nightmareSTOKE CITY FC
