Stoke to conduct investigation

Stoke will conduct an internal investigation amid claims that Tony Pulis and James Beattie were involved in a dressing room row on Saturday.

An argument is reported to have broken out between the manager and striker over the players' Christmas party after the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Stoke chairman Peter Coates said: "As far as the club is concerned, this is an internal matter and will be dealt with internally."

The club confirmed that training had taken place as normal on Monday morning and that Beattie had made a brief appearance at the training ground.

It is believed that Pulis called the players in for training on Monday morning having previously agreed to give them the day off so they could attend a Christmas party in London.

A disagreement between Pulis and Beattie is then alleged to have followed, although the details remain unclear.

A club spokesman said: "He (Beattie) was there for a short time and then he went to the gymnasium."

Beattie came off the bench in the second half against Arsenal and has failed to start a Barclays Premier League match for the Potters since the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth on 22 November.

Pulis signed the former England striker from Sheffield United for £3.5million in last season's January transfer window and his seven goals in 16 games were instrumental in helping Stoke to finish 12th in their debut Premier League campaign.

But fitness problems have impeded his impact this term and the former Southampton and Everton forward has netted just twice in 15 appearances.