Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has tipped Newcastle United to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

The Magpies currently sit in the bottom three on goal difference, but have a game in hand over the teams around them in the table ahead of Wednesday's meeting with the Potters.

Hughes admitted that he is surprised to see Newcastle embroiled in a relegation scrap, but believes that they have the quality required to drag themselves away from danger.

"When you remind yourself of the playing staff Newcastle have and the quality - they have invested heavily too - you would expect them to be doing better," Hughes told reporters.

"They are an accomplished group of players, but to be fair to Steve [McClaren], injuries have hampered them. In terms of talent, when everybody is fit, they are really strong.

"They find themselves in a position that they wouldn't have expected to have been in, but I think they have more than enough quality to move away from the where they are currently."

Hughes also claimed that Newcastle boss McClaren has one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League.