City boss backs his players to kickstart season

Hughes’ Positive Thinking

MARK HUGHES was in a positive frame of mind as he spoke to the press ahead of Sunday’s live-televised showdown with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The Potters travel south looking to chalk up a first league win of the term, having suffered three successive defeats at the hands of Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite that however, the Welshman says the atmosphere within the camp is high and he is backing his players to ignite their campaign sooner rather than later.

“We haven’t yet been able to produce a really strong 90 minute performance, but that will come – I am certain of it,” he said on Friday.

“Obviously it is early season form and we have a number of players who maybe aren’t at the level that we know we are capable of.

“At the level we play at we need at least eight or nine who are playing at the top of their game, and for one reason or another we haven’t quite had that yet – although that will change, very quickly.”

He added: “We have had a good week’s training, the lads have been in good spirits and training well and we are looking forward to hopefully putting things right at the weekend.”

Hughes highlighted Crystal Palace as another prime example of the ruthlessness of the Premier League.

“They have made big changes this summer, in terms of allowing players to leave and bringing other good players in.

“They maybe did that on the back of the disappointing run they went through during the second part of last season.

“Like ourselves, have only had one win in 14 or 15 games, but the key is this is a 38 game season.

“It is down to what you end the season with, not how you start it – they will be fine I am sure because like ourselves they are a good side.”

source: www.stokecityfc.com