Stoke City boss Mark Hughes believes Manchester United are capable of winning the title this season.

United are 10 points behind league leaders Chelsea and seven back on Manchester City but Hughes feels his opponents on Thursday are still in contention to become champions in May.

"I think they are title contenders, they may have given themselves too much to do - they're 10 points back at the moment and there are very strong teams ahead of them," Hughes said.

"They're coming into a run of form now which will encourage them and that's what they need to do, they can't afford to have too many more slip ups.

"Hopefully we'll be able to overcome them and that will be four defeats - historically you can't afford more than six to seven. If you have that many defeats it's almost impossible to win the Premier League.

"They'll be aware of that but they have the players to go on an extended run as they're doing at the moment."