STOKE CITY MANAGER Mark Hughes revealed goalkeeper Jack Butland produced his superb performance against Norwich City while playing with a broken finger.
The visitors took the lead in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Carrow Road after 11 minutes as Mame Biram Diouf headed home debutant Xherdan Shaqiri’s right-wing free-kick.
Stoke were pegged back after a low strike from Norwich captain Russell Martin shortly after and Hughes had his young stopper to thank for keeping out Cameron Jerome and Graeme Dorrans late on.
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“I am happy. We had a decent amount of play in the first half, but didn’t create a great deal, the conditions took the edge off our game,” he said.
“In the end, we are grateful for a number of saves from Jack Butland, who was outstanding.
“At the moment, Jack has a broken finger as well, so that shows the strength of character he has.”
Stoke broke their transfer record this summer with the £12m signing of Switzerland international winger Shaqiri from Italian outfit Inter Milan.
And the former Manchester City boss Hughes reckons the 23-year-old, who demonstrated his creativity to provide the assist for the game’s opener, will prove to be an important player for his team.
“Xherdan Shaqiri will get better the longer he is with us, but you can see that he will be a key player for us,” he added.
“He hasn’t played much, but the 90 minutes will do him the world of good.”
Stoke's man-of-the-match played with a broken finger today
STOKE CITY MANAGER Mark Hughes revealed goalkeeper Jack Butland produced his superb performance against Norwich City while playing with a broken finger.
The visitors took the lead in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Carrow Road after 11 minutes as Mame Biram Diouf headed home debutant Xherdan Shaqiri’s right-wing free-kick.
Stoke were pegged back after a low strike from Norwich captain Russell Martin shortly after and Hughes had his young stopper to thank for keeping out Cameron Jerome and Graeme Dorrans late on.
“I am happy. We had a decent amount of play in the first half, but didn’t create a great deal, the conditions took the edge off our game,” he said.
“In the end, we are grateful for a number of saves from Jack Butland, who was outstanding.
“At the moment, Jack has a broken finger as well, so that shows the strength of character he has.”
Stoke broke their transfer record this summer with the £12m signing of Switzerland international winger Shaqiri from Italian outfit Inter Milan.
And the former Manchester City boss Hughes reckons the 23-year-old, who demonstrated his creativity to provide the assist for the game’s opener, will prove to be an important player for his team.
“Xherdan Shaqiri will get better the longer he is with us, but you can see that he will be a key player for us,” he added.
“He hasn’t played much, but the 90 minutes will do him the world of good.”
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brave Football Jack Butland Mame Biram Diouf Premier League Russell Martin Norway Stoke City UK Football Xherdan Shaqiri