Stoke sign Whitley…Cisse released

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has signed Cardiff and Northern Ireland international midfielder Jeff Whitley on loan until Christmas.
The 27-year old midfielder has a wealth of experience and will bolster a squad desperately short on numbers.
Whitley goes straight into the squad for tomorrows game at Luton, however it is unclear as to whether he will be in the starting line-up.
Following Karl Henry’s departure to Wolves, John Eustace’s fitness race, Josip Skoko returning to Wigan and Junior returning to Anderlecht, Stoke have been low on numbers in the middle of the park, so Whitley is a timely addition to the squad.
He has achieved two promotions at this level, with Man.City, and more recently Sunderland, and started 36 games for Cardiff last season, scoring 1 goal.

Meanwhile former Portsmouth midfielder Aliou Cisse has been released from his trial spell. Cisse played in the midweek friendly at Sheffield Wednesday (lost 2-1) but failed to impress the Stoke boss, who questioned his desire and supposedly high wage demands.