STOKE City boss Mark Hughes admitted his side were hurting following their hammering by Manchester City – but was adamant they would get back on course against Cherries.

The Potters were crushed 7-2 at Etihad Stadium five days ago but Hughes feels his troops will return to form for Saturday's crunch Premier League clash at bet365 Stadium (3pm).

Stoke are hovering above the relegation zone on eight points, four clear of 19th-placed Cherries.

Hughes told the club website: “Losing in the manner we did against City hurt us but we will be ready to go again by the time the Bournemouth game comes around.

“We didn’t acquit ourselves as well as I would have hoped and did the fundamentals poorly. When you do that against a team of City’s quality then you are going to be punished.

“At 3-2, we got ourselves into a position where we might have got something from the game but if we are being honest – and we’re an honest group – the scoreline at that stage probably flattered us somewhat.

“We’ve now played all the top sides, apart from Tottenham Hotspur, but now have games coming up where we have to be stronger than we have been here. We will be fine.”