FORMER Gillingham FC and Mali player Mamady Sidibe is recovering from an horrific injury after being knifed by a spectator during his country's international with Togo.

Sidibe, 27, who now plays for Championship club Stoke City, severed an artery and is unlikely to play again for months.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis confirmed: "It would appear that he was the subject of a knife attack by a spectator at the match.

"He has managed to speak to our physio but it does not sound very good."

Sidibe made more than a 100 league and cup appearances for Gillingham between 2002 and 2005.