Friday 5 September 2014 15:02, UK
Stoke manager Mark Hughes will give winger Oussama Assaidi time to regain full fitness after his deadline day loan move from Liverpool.
The Morocco international, who is back at the Britannia Stadium for a second successive season, had a knee operation in the summer and in terms of conditioning is believed to be slightly behind his team-mates.
However, Hughes has not ruled the player out of being involved when Leicester visit a week on Saturday.
"Ossie isn't match fit but he's training and working with the group," he told the club’s official website.
"We're just easing him in - we'll see how he goes and how he copes with the training.
"He's not at the level that the other guys are at but it won't be long until he's there.
"We're just getting to know where he's at. We're mindful of the fact that he's had a knee injury and we don't want to compromise him by working him too hard too soon.
"We'll give him the work that he needs and then he'll be ready."
Assaidi made 19 appearances and scored four goals for the Potters last season.
