Beattie has scored twice in 11 Premier League appearances this season

Stoke City striker James Beattie has said he is hopeful of shaking off the persistent injuries that have hampered him so far this season.

Beattie has featured in 11 of Stoke's 12 Premier League matches this term, despite ankle and knee problems.

"I keep picking niggles up on my knee," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I did it again when we played West Ham and I shouldn't have carried on. Hopefully in this two-week break, we can get rid of the injury and kick on."

Stoke take on Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium in their next Premier League fixture on Sunday, with the Potters looking to bounce back from a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at struggling Hull on 8 November.

You're always looking to win your home games and this one will be no different. It will be an important game for us to win James Beattie

"We'll be looking to put behind us as soon as we can," added the former England international.

"It came at the end of an unbeaten run so the form we've been showing of late has not been too bad, but obviously it was very disappointing to lose at Hull.

"You're always looking to win your home games and this one will be no different. It will be an important game for us to win."

Beattie, who scored seven times in 16 matches for Stoke last season following a £3.5m move from Sheffield United in January, has found the net just twice in this campaign.

Both of his goals came in the 2-1 victory over West Ham on 17 October.

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