Stoke’s anger with Saido Berahino over his 3am arrest for drink-driving was exacerbated as the striker had claimed he missed training because he was ill, Sportsmail can reveal.

Berahino was an unused substitute during last Wednesday’s draw at Wigan and then failed to show at Clayton Wood the next morning, leaving it until the afternoon to call in to say he was under the weather.

Manager Nathan Jones took Berahino’s excuse at face value, and left Berahino out of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Ipswich, only to discover the 25-year-old went out in London on Sunday night leading to his involvement with the police.

Saido Berahino claimed he missed training due to illness after not showing up on Thursday

The striker was charged with drink driving after being stopped by police in London at 3am

Stoke boss Nathan Jones is said to be livid with Berahino having believed he was ill

Berahino was due to play for Stoke’s Under-23s against Manchester United on Monday night to maintain his fitness after being absent from training, but was pulled from the game when it became apparent he had been arrested hours earlier.

Jones is said to be livid at Berahino’s actions and will remove him from the dressing room by placing him with the Under-23s for the rest of the campaign. 

The club will fine him and search for buyers in the summer. Berahino had already provoked irritation by continuing to be late to training and team meetings. He also has the law to answer to. 

Jones is ready to banish the ex-England U21 star to the under-23 side for the rest of the season

The incident occurred outside of 24-hour restaurant and bar, VQ, in Bloomsbury, London

The former England Under-21 international was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle on Tuesday and is due to appear before Highbury Corner Magistrates on Wednesday, March 6.

Police had been called to VQ, a 24-hour restaurant and bar in Bloomsbury, after reports of an incident at 3am on Monday morning.

When officers arrived Berahino is said to have sped off round the corner in his Range Rover before being apprehended.

Scotland Yard said: ‘He alleged that a group of males surrounded his car in Great Russell Street and attacked him, stealing his watch.’ 

Berahino was arrested after police witnessed him driving away from an incident at speed

When fans turn on their manager, the writing is on the wall. The atmosphere towards Maurizio Sarri during Chelsea’s defeat by Manchester United was vitriolic.

I cannot recall the last time Chelsea supporters sang, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ to one of their managers. This is not a handful of disgruntled fans. The crowd has turned.

How can the club have any faith in Sarri going into a Carabao Cup final against a Manchester City side who battered Chelsea 6-0 only a fortnight ago? It is time to install a caretaker until the end of the season.

In terms of a quick fix Chelsea could turn to Guus Hiddink even if he is 72 years old

The atmosphere towards Maurizio Sarri during Chelsea’s defeat was vitriolic on Monday

Sarri seems a likeable man but has not helped himself. His stubbornness with substitutions has made him look like a one-trick pony. He has also admitted that Eden Hazard is free to leave. You want your manager to be fighting to keep your best players.

But most damning was Sarri’s admission that his players are difficult to motivate. Those words must have been ringing in the ears of the Chelsea hierarchy as their side trudged off 2-0 down at half-time against United.

In terms of a quick fix, they could turn to Guus Hiddink. He may be 72 and now in charge of the China Under 21s, but has proven a safe pair of hands in his two previous stints. 

An alternative would be Steve Holland, Gareth Southgate’s assistant with England and a former Chelsea coach who knows this club inside out. But appointing the next permanent manager relies greatly on the future of Roman Abramovich. 

He has dispensed with coaches who achieved far more than Sarri and yet the Italian remains in a job. Has Abramovich changed his approach or is he losing interest?