Tony Pulis apologised to his entire Stoke City squad on Monday for the violent outburst that has pushed James Beattie towards the exit door at the Britannia Stadium.

Further details of the alleged bust-up have surfaced, with Pulis understood to have attempted to headbutt Beattie whilst naked, having overheard the player's dressing room boasts while he was taking a shower.

Pulis called his players together before training on Monday and apologised for his conduct, but is said to be intent on offloading the 31-year-old in January, just 12 months after Beattie joined in a £3.5million deal fom Sheffield United.

The row was sparked by a disagreement between the two over the duration of the club's Christmas party - in London on Saturday evening - Beattie is said to have reminded his boss that he had given players permission to take the Monday off.

But Pulis maintained that that had never been the case, and, according to the Daily Mail, blames his striker for the row, for having undermined his authority in boasting to the squad's younger players that he would 'fix it' to have the Xmas party extended.

The Potters boss acknowledged that his reaction had been over the top, but has not let the incident move him on the duration of the club's Christmas shindig, which remained firmly a one-night affair.