12 months ago today: Sidibe Snaps Achilles In Potters Defeat

Last updated : 21 August 2011 By Dan Buxton

The season is already over for Mama Sidibe, and his Stoke career could well be finished too.

Sidibe, who has played nearly 200 games for the Potters, scoring 26 goals, snapped his achilles just two minutes after coming on as a substitute during the Potters 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham.

The injury means he is highly unlikely to play again this season and, with the transfer windows both now and January to go until he is fit again, City boss Tony Pulis will be expected to replace the Malian international before he is back fit.

With new £8m man Kenwyne Jones already above him in the target man queue, new signing Jon Walters kept him out of the side today, indicating he was already third choice target man before this setback.

The harsh truth is that, unfortunately, Sidibe has never been the same player since he ruptured cruciate knee ligaments in February 2009, keeping him out for nine months, and his performances seemed to go backwards at a massive rate last season. His knee just didn't seem to allow him to spring how he used too do and without that he loses pretty much everything his game is about.

Add in this latest major injury and I believe that, after many years good service, we may have seen the last of Mama Sidibe as a regular in the Stoke side.

Regardless of anything else may I take this opportunity to wish him a full, and speedy, recovery.