It’s fair to say that Higgy has not been seen in a Stoke shirt for a while, he has found it hard to get into the first team of late and wanting to play games is the only reason for the move.
The defender went off to join Quitterall’s men on deadline day on loan until the end of the season.
But there has been no fall out with the manager and he remains ever grateful to Tony Pulis.
Higginbotham said: "The gaffer has done loads for me over the years and resurrected my career, so I'm not going to have issues.
"It's his opinion that I am not playing and I am not going to begrudge him that.
"But there comes a time for every footballer and I'm not a self-indulgent person who thinks I should always be playing.
"At the age I am now, and after a long-term injury, I've done enough watching from the sidelines. It's hard enough when you're injured, but when you get fit and are available, it is very frustrating.
"But what the manager has done here is second to none and, as frustrating as it is for me, the lads are doing well."