Stoke City chief scout Lindsay Parsons admits he recommended Chelsea striker Demba Ba to the Potters.

Parsons says he has recommended other players who have gone on to be a success in the Premier League.

He told the Gloucestershire Echo: "I have been told that players I've recommended have been too small for Stoke, but I don't go along with that.

"Look at Lionel Messi, he is different class and is he too small?

"I have recommended players like (Cheick) Tiote, (Hatem) Ben Arfa and (Demba) Ba, but they have not been signed by Stoke and they have done well for other clubs."