Updated

Stoke has launched an internal investigation after American midfielder Brek Shea posted a picture of himself holding a severed pig's head while in the team's locker room.

The Premier League club says it "takes seriously reports of an incident" at its Clayton Wood training ground and "those responsible for any unacceptable behavior will be dealt with in accordance with the club's disciplinary procedures."

Shea, who transferred in January from FC Dallas, posted a picture of himself holding a pig's head, which was severed down the middle, by the ears in the changing room.

Shea tweeted "locker room banter gone wild!!! (hashtag)SAW."

British media is reporting that the pig's head was found in the locker of forward Kenwyne Jones.

Another Stoke forward, Michael Owen, was the subject of a prank last week when he tweeted a picture of his car covered in eggs and flour."