Mark Hughes, the Stoke City manager, insists that being overlooked for the manager of the month award does not worry him as he prepares to face the present holder of the accolade.
Tony Pulis, the West Bromwich Albion head coach and a former Stoke manager, won the February honour. His team have since lost twice and Hughes, whose side have won their past three games, is confident that Stoke can continue their excellent form at The Hawthorns today.
Hughes has won the award only once, in October 2007 while in charge of Blackburn Rovers. “I’m never bothered about personal gain,” he said. “It’s all about the team. I’d rather they got recognised, but maybe it helps us being under the radar as we’re never in danger of getting the curse of the manager of the month.”
Stoke are eighth in the Barclays Premier League, quite an achievement given that they are the lowest spenders this season. “The key is that there are very few players who aren’t playing the best football of their careers,” Hughes added. “That’s why we’ve kicked on.”
Chris Brunt will be able to face Stoke today after opting to contest a Football Association disciplinary charge.
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The West Bromwich midfielder is accused of using foul and abusive language towards Anthony Taylor, the referee, after last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Aston Villa. The offence carries a potential two-match ban. Brunt has requested a personal hearing and can play until a date is finalised.
Meanwhile, Pulis has called for a statue to be erected of Peter Coates, the Stoke owner, outside the Britannia Stadium, despite Pulis being sacked by the Staffordshire club in 2013.
The Coates family repurchased the club in 2006 and swiftly moved to re-employ Pulis for a second stint in charge, a decision that was rewarded with promotion to the Premier League two years later and an appearance in the FA Cup final in 2011.
“The Coates family are wonderful people and it was a pleasure working there and being given the opportunity to put the club where it is now,” Pulis said. “They should make a statue for Peter and put it in front of the main entrance.”