Mark Hughes is grateful to Stoke City for giving him a new chance.

Hughes admits his reputation took a hit during his time in charge of QPR.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity," admits Hughes, whose side play Arsenal today. "My stock was low because of QPR. I did actually keep them up the previous season, but that seemed to have been airbrushed out. I seemed to get blamed for everything that went wrong at QPR last season, even the games they lost after I'd left!

"When I spoke to the Coates family and [chief executive] Tony Scholes, they wanted to understand what went on at Rangers, and rightly so. But they had also done their homework, speaking to people who had worked with me before.

"Thankfully, they must have heard good things because I got the job. If they'd been swayed by public opinion, it would have been difficult for me."