JAMES Beattie could have played his last game for Stoke City after undergoing surgery to try to rectify a long-running knee complaint.

The 32-year-old striker, who has started only 10 Premier League games this term, is sidelined for up to six weeks after having his knee ligament cleaned out this week.

He still has one year left on his contract, but could be moved on in the summer after failing to figure regularly this season.

"We're told James could be out for five to six weeks," said Stoke boss Tony Pulis. "He might be fit enough for the last three or four games, we'll just have to see.

"We've got Chelsea, Everton and Manchester United in our last three fixtures, so we'll be putting out 15 players for those games anyway."

Pulis denied Beattie's absence in recent months had anything to do with the infamous dressing-room spat between the pair after the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in December.

"The incident was the incident," he insisted. "He's been carrying injuries and he hasn't played because of that. If Beattie was fit, he would be involved. We had to bring a young YTS lad (Louis Moult) on at Burnley the other night."

Pulis is hoping for better news of Ricardo Fuller ahead of this afternoon's clash with Aston Villa at the Britannia (3pm).

Fuller missed Wednesday's draw at Burnley with a jarred back, but trained lightly yesterday to enhance his hopes.

"We'll have to wait on Ric," Pulis reported. "I've been working with Ric for four-and-a-half years and I still cannot work him out. You just hope the opposition can't either."

Midfielder Glenn Whelan is also an outside possibility after returning to light training following last week's hamstring strain, but defender Danny Higginbotham definitely returns to the squad after overcoming a month-long back injury.

Stoke face a side gunning for Champions League qualification and Pulis added: "I wouldn't be surprised if either Villa or Spurs get fourth spot."