Charlie Adam has in the past been criticised for his fitness, but Hughes suggests he is happy with the Scot.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has backed midfielder Charlie Adam to make an impact throughout the entire 90 minutes of a game, after being criticised for his fitness in the past.
Adam has rarely completed an entire game for the Potters this season and has been involved in a substitution on more occasions than any other Stoke player so far this season.
Hughes is quoted in the Stoke Sentinel, saying: “In the past you get to about 65 or 70 minutes and you think his effect on the game was possibly waning, then look to make a change and Charlie was the obvious choice, but that’s not the case now.
“People questioned his weight, but that’s never been an issue, it’s just his shape and body make-up, and he knows how to manage himself through games.”
| Position | Team | Total Sub On | Total Sub Off | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Adam | MF | Stoke | 14 | 5 | 25 | 1,191 |
| Peter Crouch | FW | Stoke | 13 | 5 | 30 | 1,635 |
| Marko Arnautovic | FW | Stoke | 9 | 7 | 25 | 1,588 |
| Oussama Assaidi | MF | Stoke | 8 | 1 | 9 | 224 |
| Geoff Cameron | DF | Stoke | 6 | 2 | 24 | 1,865 |
It does beg the question why he probably hasn’t been used more often, especially if he comes up with important and eye-catching goals.
After Hughes’s backing that Adam is capable of completing 90 minutes – one would think he means on a regular basis – then you have to ask the question why he has only done it on six occasions this season.
During his time at Liverpool, the Scot seemed to get tired as the game went on, while at Blackpool he had David Vaughan alongside him to do a lot of the leg work.
He does seem to have a bigger frame compared to other footballers, but the fitness issue will only be really highlighted if the side gets overrun in the middle of the park, and Adam gets targeted.
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