Kenwyne Jones has challenged Stoke to continue finding the balance between their domestic and European commitments.
Trinidad and Tobago international learning lessons fast
Kenwyne Jones has challenged Stoke to continue finding the balance between their domestic and European commitments if they are to be successful this season.
The Potters have drawn their opening two Premier League games but it is in Europe where they have so far excelled.
Tony Pulis' men secured their place in the Europa League group stages on Thursday after they beat FC Thun 4-1 on the evening, and 5-1 on aggregate to seal their place.
Brace
A Jones brace in the victory helped them achieve this and the Trinidad and Tobago striker insists they cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal.
"It's fantastic to be where we are right now, and to qualify for the group stages is a good achievement for the football club, but it's only a start and we can't afford to sit back and applaud ourselves," Jones told the club's
official website.
"There is a lot of hard word in front of us now. European football is totally different to the Premier League, so the big thing for us now is to learn how to balance the two competitions, because games will come at us thick and fast."
Priority
He added: "We know our priority is still the Premier League, none of us will hide from the fact, but whilst we are in the Europa League we have the belief that we can go on and do very well in it, especially after what we've achieved so far.
"The key for us will be how we can come off the back of a European match and get back down to business.
"It's an art that we need to master over the next few months if we are to do well."
