First indications pointed to cruciate ligament damage and an injury lay off for the rest of the season, but scans have revealed that the knee was hyperextended, and so Sidibe will be back in the New Year.
The injury is still a blow to Stoke as record signing Dave Kitson is also out injured leaving just Richard Cresswell and Vincent Pericard to partner Ricardo Fuller. The injury list is growing with Liam Lawrence, Salif Diao, Andy Griffin and Ryan Shawcross also out. More injuries need to be avoided otherwise the list could start to affect results and morale at a crucial stage of the season.
Sidibe has won round any doubters this season with a string of strong displays in the Premier League, and he had at last started to find a goalscoring touch.