James Beattie is set to resume training as normal, five days after a heated changing room exchange with his Stoke City boss Tony Pulis, with the club assuring that the incident is now 'water under the bridge'.

The bust-up, sparked by a disagreement between the pair over the duration of the Potters' Christmas party this weekend, led to speculation that 31-year-old striker Beattie would quit the club come January.

However, that was quickly denied by the Potters, while it was revealed that both Beattie and his manager had been sure to apologise for the row, calling meetings with the club's players and managers alike.

Former England striker Beattie has not trained all week, owing to an ankle injury rather than any connection to the spat with his boss, but will apparently join the rest of the squad on Thursday ahead of Saturday's visit of Wigan.

The Professional Footballers' Association offered its help in resolving the affair, but Stoke declined any outside assistance, with PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor explaining that the club had put the incident firmly behind them.

"We offered to help but the club said we were not needed, that it is water under the bridge and everything has been sorted out," he told Sky Sports News.

"These things have always happened in football when passions are inflamed but now the game is a goldfish bowl."