Hendrie stays with Stoke

By Mark Buckingham

Stoke City have struck a deal to keep Lee Hendrie for a third month.

Hendrie has cut an impressive figure for Stoke since joining the club on loan from Aston Villa in September.

His stint was due to expire this week and Potters boss Tony Pulis had desperately been hoping to hang on to the player for a further month.

Martin O'Neill has agreed to an extension and Pulis praised his Villa counterpart for the decision.

"We've got him for a third month and I can't thank Martin O'Neill enough for his help," Pulis told The Sentinel.

"He's allowed us to have Lee for that extra month and that's got to be fantastic news, for both the player and Stoke City.

"The news will give everyone a lift because Lee has been special since joining us."

Meanwhile, Patrik Berger, who joined Stoke on loan from Villa last week, has confirmed he was fined by O'Neill for refusing to play in the reserves.

Berger said: "I was fined two weeks' wages and suspended from the training ground.

"I don't mind playing for the reserves as long as I am coming back from injury, but I felt fit."

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