by Martin Spinks

STOKE striker Mama Sidibe confesses he will be broken-hearted if he is ruled out of his dream date with Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Sidibe is battling to overcome the ankle injury forcing him to put his feet up ahead of his biggest game of the season.

"To play at Manchester is something very important to me," said the popular Mali international. "For me, going to play there is a dream.

"My first dream this year was reaching the Premier League, then it was playing at Manchester United, then it was scoring at Manchester United.

"But first I have to be fit and we have to wait and see on that. I got a kick at Wigan last week and it has swollen between the ankle and the achilles.

"To play Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal is big, but to play Manchester United is the biggest of all."

And he admits he will have to dismiss any personal favouritism after revealing he is a secret Red.

"Growing up in France you know of United. I started to follow them when they won the Champions League in 1999. I love Beckham and Yorke.

"But now we have to play against them and everything is different. Now they are my adversary.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the one who has got everything... pace, technique, everything. For me to be playing at Old Trafford is a big step up after playing in lower leagues."

But Sidibe insists neither he nor his team-mates travel north in trepidation after recently enjoying a run of one defeat in six to leave City 12th in the Premier League.

"We go there with nothing to lose and maybe we play them at the right time for us because of our confidence.

"We showed at Liverpool we can get something from a big game if we have the right mentality and confidence. And it is right.

"Also, I play in front of big crowds with Mali before, so it doesn't affect me on Saturday."

Sidibe is favourite to play and resume his popular partnership with Ricardo Fuller, but only if fit, otherwise Dave Kitson stands by for what will be his first league start since Portsmouth away half-a-dozen games ago.

Manager Tony Pulis is unlikely to tinker elsewhere with the starting 11 he has employed in Stoke's last two Premier League outings.

That means a first senior appearance at Old Trafford for Ryan Shawcross after the former United prospect was restricted to two sub appearances away from home under Sir Alex Ferguson.

"We will play the way we play. We are what we are and the players know the system we play," said Pulis.

"We will certainly have to work very hard when we don't have the ball. But we have a good spirit and confidence is high."

STOKE'S home fixtures with Liverpool on Saturday, January 10, and Manchester City on Saturday, January 31, are now kicking off at 5.30pm and 12.45pm respectively because of live TV coverage on Setanta and Sky.