NEW STOKE CITY striker James Beattie has claimed his time at Everton turned sour after falling out with manager David Moyes.

The 30-year-old left Sheffield United to sign a two-and-a-half-year £3.5million deal with the Potters on Monday and is expected to make his debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Beattie’s last spell in the Premier League, with Everton from January 2005 until the summer of 2007, was disappointing with just 13 goals in 76 appearances. And the forward admitted his 18-month spell in the Coca-Cola Championship with Sheffield United had reinvigorated him after an unhappy final year at Goodison, for whom he had cost a then club record £6million to buy from Southampton.

“I enjoyed my time there, apart from the last 12 months when the manager didn’t see me in his plans and didn’t really treat me that well off the pitch,” said Beattie. “It left a bit of a sour taste and it was a really big decision to drop down a division to join Sheffield United.

“But a lot of people have congratulated me in resurrecting my career, as it were, because it would have been easy to disappear down the league.

“Now I’ve got a chance in the Premier League again with Stoke and I can’t wait. I was disappointed to leave Sheffield United. Kevin Blackwell and Sam Ellis (manager and assistant) were desperate to keep me but the club wanted me out for financial reasons and nailed their colours to the mast on that one.

“I am very thankful for Stoke giving me the opportunity to pit my wits against some of the best teams in Europe.”

Beattie believes he is returning to the form which saw him score 68 times in the Premier League for Southampton, and is targeted a century of top-flight goals and helping Stoke avoid relegation.

“I was sure I was always going to get back into the Premier League one way or another,” said Beattie, who is likely to make his debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. “I still believe I can do it in this league. I’m proven in this league, so there’s no reason to say I can’t do it.”