Manchester City will host a struggling Stoke side on Sunday but Mark Hughes is looking to get his side’s first win of the season.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes
Stoke are heading to Old Trafford on Sunday still searching for their first win of the season and manager Mark Hughes sees no reason why it couldn’t come this weekend.
Despite the club not having won there in more than 40 years, Hughes said in his pre-match press conference: “We’ve broken a few records in my time here and we have another opportunity to do that this weekend.
“I don’t think we will be thinking too much about our record there – we will take it on its own merit.
“It will be tough but as I say, we have beaten them and other big clubs at home so why can’t we go and enjoy similar performances on the road?”
Stoke have had a miserable start to the season. They currently sit second from bottom in the Premier League and have conceded 15 goals in six games, yielding just two points.
Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo in action
Manchester United are up in sixth despite a nervous start to the season but they will be looking to make this weekend’s game a fourth consecutive win in all competitions after their Europa league victory last night.
Hughes, who won multiple trophies when he played for Manchester United between 1980 and 1995, added: “I played in a winning Manchester United team that was challenging for titles year on year.
“That team from my personal experience had the mindset that they have to win every game. I’m not sure whether the current group have that feeling but they have the talent to do that.”
Stoke City’s Joe Allen in action with West Bromwich Albion’s Matt Phillips
Hughes’ biggest worry ahead of the televised clash on Sunday centres around his injured midfielder Joe Allen who left the draw against West Bromwich Albion limping.
“Joe has a little bit of tightness in his hamstring still, which stems from the game last weekend
“Hopefully, he will be Ok, but as it stands, without me having seen him today, he is a doubt for the game.”
The Welshman did confirm that that Xherdan Shaqiri is once again available, after completing his first game in six weeks last weekend.
Kickoff is at 12pm on Sunday.
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