Mark Hughes targets strong winter form

Mark Hughes has claimed that a strong run of performances in the winter could push Stoke City to another impressive Premier League finish this season.

Stoke currently occupy 12th spot in the table ahead of Saturday's visit of Manchester City, but Hughes is confident that his side are on the brink of putting together an extended run of good results.

"We have only lost a couple of games over the past couple of months so we are in good spirits. We are progressing," the Potters boss told reporters in his pre-match press conference.

"We're into a Capital One Cup semi-final for the first time in a long time. It's a nice sense of achievement. We want to keep the momentum going.

"It's a big period coming up. Last year we picked up a lot of points and it set us up nicely for the season. We want the same again."

Stoke have lost just two of their last 12 games in all competitions.