Stoke City No2 Mark Bowen is convinced Potters fans will quickly take to manager Mark Hughes.

Bowen, who has worked with Hughes at Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR, is relishing the chance to return to the top flight.

"First and foremost Mark is a friend. We've known each other since we were 12 or 13 years old, a very long time," said Bowen.

"What qualities does he bring to the job? He's an excellent tactician and coach; he knows what he wants but at the same time I wouldn't call him a person who adopts a 'my way or the highway' approach.

"He's very much open to different opinions. If somebody brings something to the table that he likes, he will take it on board.

"We've spoken to one or two of the players. Jonathan Walters popped into building the other day and we spoke to him and we got a really good reaction from him.

"We work on intensity and demand things on the training ground but good pros always embrace it - it's the only the ones who are not such good pros who react badly to it. We demand high standards from the players all the time."