Salif Diao is confident of displaying his true ability for Stoke next season having finally shaken off a troublesome knee injury.The Senegal international was restricted to just eight appearances in Stoke's triumphant promotion campaign last year and sought specialist help in a bid to rid himself of a lingering problem.

He has been informed that no surgery is required to rectify the complaint and will spend the close season working on his rehabilitation.

With the prospect of a full pre-season training programme behind him the former Liverpool man is now looking towards the Potters' 2008/09 opener against Bolton on August 16.

"I haven't had much of a holiday, but the most important thing is the job," Diao told The Sentinel.

"There will be plenty of time for a holiday when I have finished playing.

"It is frustrating when you play and are not 100 per cent. Hopefully, this time I can show the fans the real side of me."

Stoke are set to become the fourth side Diao has represented in the Premier League, following spells at Liverpool, Birmingham and Portsmouth, and he is confident that Tony Pulis' side have what it takes to be competitive in the top flight.

"When I came to Stoke some people asked what I was doing here, but it was a good challenge," he said.

"It was a case of saying other people might not believe in us, but I believed in what Stoke could do.

"Everyone is thinking Stoke will be one of the first teams to go down, so this is really a challenge for us.

"We have nothing to lose and I am really looking forward to it.

"If we are ready physically, then with the mentality we have, we can cause problems."

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