Stoke City boss Mark Hughes was pleased with two-goal Stephen Ireland after their FA Cup win over Wrexham.

Ireland, out recently due to a knee problem, was playing his first game since early December and his goals broke his scoring duck for the season.

And of the midfielder, Hughes said: "Those goals were important.

"Stephen has been really unlucky - he arguably started pre-season in the best form of anybody, then got injured, went out of the team and found it hard to get back in, then got injured again. So it has been stop-start for him.

"But hopefully this year might be a bit more productive for him. He will always get you a goal - he is a good finisher and will be encouraged by that."