Stoke City’s Lambert hopeful of Diouf’s return for Arsenal clash

The former Manchester United marksman featured for his country during the international break after spending the past few weeks on the sidelinesStoke City coach Paul Lambert is hopeful that Mame Biram Diouf will return to his squad when they face Arsenal in their next English Premier League encounter.
Diouf had missed the Potters’ last two encounters against Manchester City and Everton after damaging his shoulder in their draw with Southampton earlier this month.
However, the striker returned to action while on international duty with Senegal, featuring for 68 minutes as the Teranga Lions played a goalless stalemate with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Le Havre on Tuesday evening.
And the former Aston Villa gaffer is upbeat about the fitness of the 30-year-old ahead of their visit to the Emirates on Sunday.
"Mame has been a miss for us, but he played for his country over the break so hopefully he is okay now," Lambert said at Wednesday afternoon's press conference.
"Obviously, we are going to have to take a look at him, just as we are with all of the other lads who have been away from the club for a while. We expect them to be [fit] because the word we have from them all right now is that they are okay.”