Stoke striker James Beattie has been ruled out for six weeks.
The 32-year-old former England international has started just one Premier League game and made six substitute appearances for the Potters this season, and has now had surgery on his problematic knee cartilage.
Following a bust-up with manager Tony Pulis in December, Beattie was linked with a move during the January transfer window.
And Pulis confirmed that the striker is now facing a spell of rehabilitation.
He 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."
