Stoke City Football Club are furious that Salif Diao must travel to Senegal this weekend.

The midfielder has been in fine form recently, but although he missed the Portsmouth game with a groin injury, Senegal have insisted he still links up with their squad.

"It's very disappointing to say the least, because we wanted him here so we could supervise his return to fitness," Potters boss Tony Pulis told the Sentinel.

"But those are the rules when it comes to injured players and national FA’s. I'm afraid they have the right to demand he travels all the way to Africa for them to look at him in person if they choose to."