Stoke City boss Mark Hughes explained allowing Gianelli Imbula to move to Toulouse.

Imbula has joined TFC on a season-long loan.

“In terms of Gianni," said Hughes, “he needed to get going again.

“It's just a case that in the short and medium term he wasn't going to force his way into my thinking.

“He was struggling to make an impression in training and change my view of his standing in the group, so needed to get to an environment where he would get more game time and feel more comfortable.

“So it made sense to go to France. He might well flourish there. We will see."