Hughes: Xherdan is Stoke’s shining light

Xherdan Shaqiri shocked half of Europe when he opted to spurn a host of potential big-name suitors to join Stoke City last season, and Mark Hughes believes the 25-year-old is becoming one of the Premier League’s shining lights.

The Potters won 2-0 at Hull City at the weekend, with Shaqiri scoring two spectacular left-footed efforts from range – one from open play and the other a free-kick.

Shaqiri scored a similar 20-yard free-kick against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, but had not hit the net since a calf injury ruled him out for the following six weeks.

And Hughes insists he was never worried Shaqiri had lost his goal-scoring touch, as the Swiss international has now fully acclimatised to the challenges of English football.

“Xherdan was absolutely superb for us, just as he has been when he has played this season in all fairness to him,” he said.

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

“We lost him for five or six games through injury, but since he has returned he has really shown that he is now accustomed to the Premier League.

“We always thought that it may take him a season or so to fully get to grips with what this league offers, but he is showing signs now that he feels comfortable and knows what it takes to influence games in the right manner.

“It wasn’t just his two goals that stood out [against Hull]; it was his performance as a whole, he worked for the team and produced several outstanding passes to create opportunities.

“He was a real shining light for us, just as the performance was from the group as a whole – we feel we are in a good place at the moment.”