Stoke City forward Mamady Sidibe was back in action last night, scoring for the club’s reserve side.
Stoke City’s reserve side may have lost 4-1 to Fleetwood Town last night, but it had a positive note as Mamady Sidibe scored their consolation.
The Malian striker scored the winner in Stoke’s first ever Premier League win back in 2008, and had become an important part of the side.
He had been with the club since 2005, when he was snapped up by Tony Pulis on a free transfer. He scored goals in their promotion campaign, and had got off to a terrific start in the Premier League.
His physical presence was ideal for Stoke’s direct approach, for which they make no apology, and Sidibe contributed a further four points by netting a winner against West Brom and in a draw with Newcastle.
It was shortly afterwards that he would suffer an injury which would begin almost four nightmare years at the club.
His injury record reads like this; December 2008, knee injury, January 2009, cruciate knee tear, October 2009, knee injury, August 2010, Achilles tendon rupture, October 2011, knee injury.
He did not make a single appearance last season, featuring on the bench just once, while his last time on the pitch for the club was in August 2010, when he played just four minutes as a substitute in a home defeat to Spurs.
He did have some luck in between, playing regularly in 2009/10, scoring against Fulham and Blackburn in the league, and setting up a goal against Arsenal in a 3-1 FA Cup win. But that season has been the exception rather than the rule, since the club were promoted to the Premier League.
Sidibe is a striker who has been beset by bad luck, and admitted at one point he had considered retirement from the game altogether. He has not just had several injuries, but several serious injuries, which all take their toll.
He is 32 now, and has a contract until next June. He will hope for some luck to go his way and relaunch his career, whether it be at Stoke or somewhere else.
He played a total of 75 minutes last night, and will be eased back no doubt. The club have previously been criticised for rushing him, bringing about further injury.
The problem is for Sidibe is that he is not included in Stoke’s 25 man squad they submitted to the Premier League. A spare spot was available for a striker, but new arrival Michael Owen, another man with a history if injury problems, is there now.
It says everything about Stoke’s progress that a year after Sidibe was signed, Owen and Crouch were England’s strike partnership at the World Cup. Six years on they look set to lead the attack at the Britannia.
Sidibe’s best bet will be to go out on loan to get some regular football. There is no League Cup game for him to look forward to, a competition he would be eligible for, as Stoke were knocked out by Swindon last month in the second round.
The striker would be best advised to drop down a division and get back playing competitive football between now and January.
If it proves a success, he may even convince Tony Pulis to give him a chance. Who knows, Michael Owen may get injured and Sidibe could take his place…
Are you glad Sidibe is on the comeback trail? Does he have a chance of a Stoke future?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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