Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington has denied that a return to gambling has caused his form to dip this season.

The 30-year-old has revealed that he has been accused of gambling again, despite stating that he has gone two-and-a-half years without doing so.

"I don't think I've been awful this season but it just hasn't happened for me," the Daily Mail quotes Etherington as saying. "I still think I'm putting in performances but obviously not at the level I was previously.

"You get that sometimes and I'm just as frustrated as the fans are. I'm not doing anything different, my personal life's still brilliant as ever, no problems on that front. It's just not happened for me.

"I've heard a few people talking and shouting their mouths off as usual but no, I've not gambled in two-and-a-half years. I'm not gambling and I'm very happy."

Etherington scored the winner in the Potters' 1-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.