'I do wonder why I came here' - Man City striker Bony airs frustration at Stoke situation

Wilfried Bony has expressed his frustration at being frozen out at Stoke in what was supposed to be a productive loan switch from Manchester City.

Having slipped down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, the Ivorian was allowed to depart last summer on a season-long agreement.

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With the 28-year-old having shown himself to a be a capable Premier League scorer at Swansea, a spell with the Potters was intended to get him back into the goal-getting groove.

He has, however, been restricted to just 12 appearances in all competitions and is yet to figure under Mark Hughes since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty.

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Bony told the Mirror on his situation at the best365 Stadium, with the opportunity to move to China during the winter transfer window having passed him by: “I don’t know why I’m not playing.

“It is really crazy when the people say you are fine and that everything is okay, but you don’t play.

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“I can say it is like maybe to piss you off, that you don’t play.

“I have asked him [Hughes] and he says I am training well, my attitude is good and I don’t need to change that but why I don’t play, I don’t know.

“The last time he says I need to be patient but ­patient of what? I don’t know.

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“I am not playing for no reason and since he spoke about the ­Chinese clause in my contract I don’t play - it’s really strange.”

Bony insists that he has no regrets at having moved to Manchester in January 2015, with that opportunity too good to pass up, but admits that joining the Potters was a mistake.

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He added: “Yes, of course. I do wonder sometimes why I came here.

“I need to see how the ­season finishes. Then I have a ­contract with ­Manchester City, two more years, so I will go back and we will see.”