Stoke City manager Mark Hughes is confident that Marko Arnautovic will continue to be a key figure for the Potters for years to come.

The Austria international was strongly linked with a move to Everton, but he committed his future to the Potters by signing a new four-year deal on Wednesday.

The Stoke manager said: "He's 27 years of age and is coming into the best years of his career.

"If he had left it wouldn't have been great seeing him donning the colours of another team as he goes into those key years.

"We're going to get the benefit of his best years.

"He's a very valued member of the squad. He's well liked and I just felt it was important that we got him to recommit.

"He's going to be a big player for us for years to come."