Paul Lambert sent Saido Berahino to train with Stoke's junior team after growing exasperated at the striker's bad time-keeping.

Berahino underwent Thursday's session alongside the Under-23s having reported late for the same side's match on Easter Monday.

Lambert has introduced a strict code of conduct since being appointed, with Ibrahim Afellay and Erik Pieters also falling foul, and this latest indiscretion by Berahino, Stoke's £12million signing, points to a fraught future under the Scottish manager.

Saido Berahino posted this photo of himself on Instagram before being punished by Stoke

The striker had turned up late for Stoke Under-23s match against Aston Villa on Easter Monday

As well as being exiled from the first team for showing up after the scheduled time to Stoke's Under-23 game against Aston Villa, which kicked off at 1pm, Berahino is also understood to have been fined.

The 24-year-old, who earns an estimated £75,000 per week, played 64 minutes in the match that Villa won 3-1 but his involvement at senior level for the final six games of the season now seems in doubt.

Lambert left Berahino out of three successive squads in February and March, preferring 18-year-old Tyrese Campbell in the game against Leicester, and demanded the former England Under-21 international improve his fitness.

Berahino is understood to have done the work required diligently, including completing double sessions at weekends, and earned a recall for the match against Everton, playing the final 14 minutes.

Stoke manager Paul Lambert has lost patience with Berahino's poor time-keeping

After that game, Lambert said: 'He did well when he came on, he's got to keep that up. You can't just turn it off, he's got to keep it going.

'That has to be standard for him to the day he finishes, the work ethic is vast and hopefully he's learning.'

Unfortunately for Stoke, there has been another misstep and Berahino's place against Tottenham is in jeopardy.

Spurs tried to sign Berahino from West Bromwich Albion multiple times but the finishing ability he showed early in his career has been absent lately, with no senior goal to his name in more than two years. Stoke are in 19th, three points adrift of safety and in desperate need of a win.