Mark Hughes eases Xherdan Shaqiri injury concerns

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that the injury which forced Xherdan Shaqiri off the pitch during the 1-0 win over Southampton is nothing serious.

The 24-year-old, who made a high-profile summer move to the Potters from Inter Milan, was withdrawn 25 minutes from time at St Mary's due to a "tightness in his hamstring".

Hughes does not expect to see Shaqiri spend any time on the sidelines, though, claiming that the Swiss was substituted in the second half more as a precaution than anything else.

"He had a little tightness in his hamstring and that was the reasoning behind taking him off when we did," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"He wanted to go out and play the second half but it was important that we protected him a little bit, which is what we did.

"I was really pleased with what he offered us once more today. You can see each game he plays that he is adapting and showing the undoubted qualities he possesses."

Shaqiri has featured 10 times for Stoke this season.