Paul Lambert has stressed that he will not recall Saido Berahino and Jese Rodriguez despite Stoke City remaining deeply mired in a relegation battle.
The Potters are in the bottom three of the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety and on an 11-game winless run during which they have scored just seven goals.
Berahino has been banished to train with the Under-23s because of attitude and timekeeping issues, while Jese is believed to have gone AWOL in his native Spain.
Despite having limited forward options ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool, Lambert insists that he will not give either player a reprieve for breaking club rules.
When asked by the Stoke Sentinel if he intended to stick by his decision over the forward pair, Lambert replied: "100%.
"I've got no qualms whatsoever about that. It's my decision and it's the right one for this football club."
Stoke head to Liverpool having played a game more than 17th-placed Swansea City and with a nine-goal inferior goal difference, and will then wrap up the season against Crystal Palace and the Swans.
Giuseppe Labellarte
