Stoke City manager Mark Hughes hailed Jonathan Walters as a "key player" after he scored the club's first ever Premier League hat-trick on Saturday.

The Potters moved into ninth place in the table with a 3-1 home win over Queens Park Rangers, and Walters was undoubtedly the star of the show.

Hughes told BBC Sport: "Jon Walters was the star man and is a key player for us. He gives everything in every game and is a credit to his profession. It was his 200th game today and to get a hat-trick it is special for him.

"We have good ability in the wide areas and key areas in the field, but it wasn't a great game and not of a great quality."

Walters, who joined Stoke from Ipswich Town in 2010, now has 10 goals for the season.