Friday 12 December 2014 15:53, UK
Mark Hughes hopes Bojan Krkic will be able to inspire Stoke to back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Former Barcelona forward Bojan struggled initially after signing for the Potters in the summer but he has been in fine form since coming back into the team at the end of October, culminating in an impressive performance in the 3-2 home victory over Arsenal last weekend.
Stoke boss Hughes said of Bojan: "Arguably he's been our best performer since he's come back in.
"He's worked hard, he's listened, understood what's required and when he came back in I knew he was ready. I can't claim to have known he would perform so well but certainly there was a good chance.
"He wasn't affecting games in the manner we would have liked initially, but that was to be expected. We can't get too carried away because there is still a lot more to come from him, and that is exciting.
"He didn't come in here in the summer wanting a 12-month contract - he made a big commitment to us, just as we made one to him too. He needed that stability (of a four-year deal) to be effective in the Premier League and for us.
"It's still early days. He's only had five or six games at the level he needs to be but he's playing with a smile on his face, his team-mates understand what he can give them and he helps as well with his work ethic - and he's a good kid."
The atmosphere at the Britannia Stadium helped Stoke against Arsenal, but Hughes knows the boot will be on the other foot at Selhurst Park.
He said: "It's a great atmosphere down there. I always found that as a player and it's not changed since I have been in management.
"The last couple of years it seems to have gone up a notch, just as that happened here when this club won promotion.
"We get the benefit of it at the Brit and I think that should be encouraged, it's a great atmosphere to be involved in. They will look to use it to their advantage on Saturday, but we will go down there and enjoy it, and hopefully pick up the result we believe we are capable of."
Stoke had lost three successive games prior to last weekend and, following the Palace clash, have a date with Chelsea at home and then a trip to Everton on Boxing Day.
"We are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures but having gone up against Arsenal and beaten them in a manner that perhaps Stoke haven't beaten them in the past gives us the confidence we can go on to get in the top 10 consistently," said Hughes, whose side currently sit 13th in the Premier League table.
"We think the top 10 is where we should be but there's no God-given right. We had a good performance and good result after the frustration of not being able to pick up back-to-back wins. Against Palace this is our opportunity."
