Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has described Glenn Whelan as an "important" part of his side as the midfielder faces a race to be fit for the game with Bournemouth.

Whelan was injured during the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win over Austria last weekend, but after a week of treatment and with his side lacking numbers in the centre of the park, Hughes is keen to include one of his most experienced players for the Premier League fixture.

The 53-year-old told reporters: "We are hopeful that it may have settled down. He may have been compromised by some stiffness which we have managed to release him from.

"He is still a doubt though. We will see if we can get him out on the training pitch today.

"As a team we have a nice base at the moment and Glenn is important to that. We are stretched in the middle because Geoff Cameron is still injured too."

Whelan has played in each of Stoke's last six games, all of which they have come through without suffering a defeat.