• Premier League

Stoke punish Pennant over double breach of curfew

ESPNsoccernet staff
March 8, 2012
Jermaine Pennant incurred the wrath of Tony Pulis © Getty Images
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Stoke midfielder Jermaine Pennant has been disciplined twice in recent weeks after breaking club rules to go out to nightclubs, incurring the wrath of manager Tony Pulis.

Pennant has struggled to command a first-team place over the last number of months, leading to rumours that Pulis had fallen out with him.

The former Arsenal winger has a chequered record, but last week Pulis distanced himself from reports of a rift and stated that he merely picks the players deserving of a starting XI place.

"Anything I do with players, it is between me and the players, but there are no problems," he stated in a press conference. "There will be people who want to make an issue of it because it is Jermaine.

"If so, fine, but there isn't an issue with me and he has not been in to see me. He has got on with it and trained well, so it's fine - not a problem."

However, Sky Sports News sources revealed that Pennant has in fact been left out of the squad because he had breached a curfew on the night before 1-0 defeat to Everton on December 4 as he was out drinking until 5am. Pennant reportedly also broke curfew before the FA Cup tie with Crawley Town on February 19.

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