Xherdan Shaqiri is a doubt for Stoke's home clash with Middlesbrough on Saturday, but Saido Berahino could be in line for his first start.

Switzerland international Shaqiri only returned to training on Friday after missing the last four games due to a calf problem.

While Shaqiri is unlikely to be involved, January signing Berahino could make the starting XI as Stoke look to respond from their 4-0 defeat at Tottenham last weekend, which manager Mark Hughes labelled as "unacceptable".

"We let ourselves down last week," said Hughes on Friday. "When we do disappoint we tend to bounce back quickly. We have to do that again."

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Boro have not won in the Premier League since December 17 and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

They have also struggled for goals lately, failing to score in their last three league matches.

"With the performances we have had in the games we have played, we could have 32 points on the table," said Boro boss Aitor Karanka. "But the reality is that we have 22."

Team news

Jonathan Walters is now fit to return to the Stoke squad, as is Glen Johnson.

It remains to be seen whether Wilfried Bony is involved after he failed to make the 18-man squad at Spurs despite being available.

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Karanka hopes to be able to call upon defenders Antonio Barragan and George Friend.

Barragan has missed the last four games with a hamstring problem, while Friend has sat out the last five because of calf and knee injuries, but both have returned to training and could come into contention.

However, Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers, who missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace with a foot problem, is likely to remain on the sidelines as Boro look for a first league win since December 17.

Match stats

Stoke have scored exactly one goal in each of their last seven league matches against Middlesbrough (W2 D2 L3).

Hughes is unbeaten in his last four home Premier League games against Middlesbrough as a manager (W3 D1) since losing his first as manager of Blackburn in October 2004 (0-4) - his first home Premier League defeat as a manager.

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Middlesbrough are the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season (19), with no side failing to score in as many games (12 games - level with Hull City).

Boro have attempted a league-low 63 shots on target in the Premier League this season and haven't had more than four in a single league game so far in 2016-17.

Just 24% of Middlesbrough's passes this season have been in the attacking third of the pitch; a lower proportion than any other Premier League team in 2016-17.

In each of the last four Premier League seasons, the lowest scoring team in the league has been relegated. The last team to score the fewest Premier League goals in a season and avoid relegation were Stoke City in 2011-12 (14th place).

Stoke are now unbeaten in seven successive Premier League home games (W3 D4 L0) - they haven't gone on a longer unbeaten home run in the competition since a 17-game run between February and December 2012.

Merson's prediction

Stoke were still in Dubai last weekend when they were hammered by Tottenham at White Hart Lane. This week though, Mark Hughes will want a reaction and I think they'll be a different team. Middlesbrough are struggling at the moment because they are having trouble scoring goals.

They've scored only three goals in their last nine league games so it's no surprise to see them dropping closer and closer to the relegation zone.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)

Betting

Stoke are marginally odds-on with Sky Bet at 19/20 as Middlesbrough are considered 16/5 outsiders while the draw is priced at 9/4. Aitor Karanka's men head into the weekend as 10/11 third favourites for relegation, while the Potters drifted out to 11/10 for a top-half finish following their White Hart Lane mauling.

Peter Crough, Saido Berahino and Marko Arnautovic share favouritism at 5/1 apiece in a wide-open first goalscorer market, with Alvaro Negredo considered the visitors' main threat at 7/1.

There's £250,000 up for grabs again this weekend for simply predicting the six correct scores. Enter your selections by 3pm here.