BOSS EYES LOAN DECISION

JAMIE Donley appears to be heading towards a loan crossroads at Stoke City as his international boss Michael O'Neill hinted at a 'January resolution.

- Peter Smith STOKE CITY

Donley scored from the penalty spot to seal a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Luxembourg for Northern Ireland on Monday night. The 20-year-old had already seen one strike ruled out before then due to an offside teammate in the buildup.

His performance was picked out as a bright spot on a drab night at Windsor Park - and he was used at centre-forward rather than in midfield, where he has started just two Carabao Cup games and made four cameo appearances in the season to date at Stoke.

The 20-year-old has struggled to break into a Stoke team fighting at the right end of the Championship and Tottenham could recall him in January if all parties agree - and unless he forces his way into Mark Robins' plans before then.