Stoke City icon Lou Macari has stated that the Potters' squad must be able to deal with the pressure that comes after a poor run.

City have endured a woeful start to their campaign so far and with a relegation battle looking very likely, Macari has urged the players to step up and produce the goods by handling the pressure they are currently under.

Macari wrote in his column for the Stoke Sentinel: "Mark Hughes will be feeling the pressure after recent results, but he's hardly the only one these days. Lose a couple of Premier League games and the manager is right in the firing line, whether it's after nine games or 29 games.

"Even Jose Mourinho was having his selection questioned after Manchester United lost at Huddersfield on Saturday.

"Only Pep Guardiola and possibly Marco Silva at Watford can be sure they won't be criticised for something right now - and unfortunately it's Watford away on Saturday for Stoke.

"I've got to admit I was a little surprised by Stoke's 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth because that's a fixture most would expect them to get something from."