James Beattie, the Stoke striker, missed training today after a row with the club's manager, Tony Pulis, according to Sky Sports. The pair were reported to have come to blows in the visitors' dressing room following Stoke's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal on Saturday. The club have revealed that they will be conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

The argument is understood to have been triggered by Pulis's insistence that the players would have to train today, prompting Beattie to object after it had previously been agreed that the first team would not be required to come in until Tuesday because they were due to go out in London on Sunday for their Christmas party.

Pulis is believed to have reacted angrily to Beattie's response and it is alleged that punches were thrown. One source claimed that the altercation ended when the team's masseur dragged Pulis away.

Pulis's squad reported for training this morning, although it is believed that Beattie was alone in failing to turn up.