Former Stoke City player Mike Pejic: 'Potters becoming soft touch'

Former Stoke City defender Mike Pejic has stated that the team are becoming a "soft touch" under manager Mark Hughes.

The former England international believes that the club, who have failed to record a win in the Premier League this season, have problems all over the pitch.

"They are becoming a soft touch, a team lacking a physical presence and a mental presence. Too many players are earning four and five out of 10 and that just isn't good enough," Pejic told the Stoke Sentinel.

"We all know the backbone of the team has been ripped apart for various reasons, but at the moment there only seems to be Glenn Whelan consistently standing up to be counted.

"But Stoke's problems run far deeper than that right now. There is no communication and spatial discipline in so many other areas of the pitch. We are not seeing the team working in pairs or as units, not staying compact when they don't have the ball, and certainly not being angry enough with themselves or their closest partner."

The Potters, who sit in 18th place in the league table, face Leicester City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.