Danny Higginbotham insists there has not been a fall out with Stoke boss Tony Pulis following his move to Nottingham Forest.
The defender has joined Forest on loan for the rest of the season after falling out of favour at City, but the player insists his relationship with Pulis is still intact.
Higginbotham says he just wants to play football and will now get that chance at the City Ground.
"The gaffer has done loads for me over the years and resurrected my career, so I'm not going to have issues," said Higginbotham. "It's his opinion that I am not playing and I am not going to begrudge him that.
"But there comes a time for every footballer and I'm not a self-indulgent person who thinks I should always be playing.
"At the age I am now, and after a long-term injury, I've done enough watching from the sidelines. It's hard enough when you're injured, but when you get fit and are available, it is very frustrating.
"But what the manager has done here is second to none and, as frustrating as it is for me, the lads are doing well."