Stoke City manager Mark Hughes on Friday (5th February) looked ahead to Saturday's (6th February) visit of Everton in the English Premier League.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager:

(On form and schedule.)

"We've just come through a really difficult period, intense period, like everybody... We're not making excuses, but I think after the game tomorrow we will have gone through twelve games, really high intensity games - we will have played Everton home and away, Liverpool home and away, Man(chester) United home and away, Arsenal within that, Leicester away as well... so very little respite really in the ten to twelve games that we've just come through. So, all in all, within that there was seven away games as well, so we're delighted that we've got a home game at long last. So it will be good to get back in the Britannia (Stadium) and get back to winning ways."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Mark Hughes, Stoke City manager:

(On new signing Giannelli Imbula.)

"He's a good player. We know he's a good player, and he's itching to get involved - so it's my intention at some point to obviously involve him as quickly as possible. The sooner he gets involved then the sooner he can understand what the Premier League is about. We're pleased we've been able to get him in this (transfer) window because I think from now to next season starting this period will be invaluable for him. So he'll get through this, he'll make an impression for us because he's a good player, but once next season starts then I think he'll really come to the fore because he'll have the benefit of this six months before the start of next season."