Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says he still regards Mame Biram Diouf as a striker.

Diouf returned for pre-season training ahead of schedule after being granted an extended summer break following international commitments.

And he has gone on to score in his first two appearances, a 1-1 draw at Preston, as a winger, and 2-1 win at Orlando, where he led the line.

Hughes told The Sentinel: “You know what you get from Mame. He gives us that threat in behind.

“If we are flat in terms of our angles when people want to just get on the ball and pass, he can make a run in behind and cause problems.

“He understands that, that's his game.

“I don't see him as (an out-and-out) winger. I pushed him central alongside Peter (Crouch) in the last 10 minutes at Preston (and from the start in Orlando) because we all acknowledge that's where his best position is.

“Centre forward is his best role – but sometimes formation wise and the shape that we have gone in for the majority of games last year, he has to do a job for us, which he is more than willing to do."