Mark Hughes backs Charlie Adam over Alexis Sanchez
Monday 12 December 2016 17:34, UK
Stoke boss Mark Hughes insists he would be "astounded" if Charlie Adam is punished for his clash with Alexis Sanchez.
The midfielder appeared to stamp on Arsenal forward Sanchez in Stoke's 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Stoke are yet to hear from the Football Association over whether they will take any retrospective action but Hughes does not expect anything to happen.
"I would be absolutely astounded if any charge was forthcoming, it's not warranted," he said.
"At the time it's very quick. When you see the slow motion frame-by-frame, people jump up and down, but in real time the lad (Sanchez) has fallen across Charlie's path and he hasn't had time to take evasive action.
"The referees on Sky looked at it this morning and came up with the same opinion."
Stoke host Southampton in the Premier League on Wednesday with Marc Muniesa a doubt after he suffered a knee injury on Saturday and Glen Johnson has an eye infection.
Ryan Shawcross has trained but could miss out with a calf problem, while Jack Butland remains sidelined with an ankle injury along with Geoff Cameron (knee).
Jon Walters could return to face Southampton after missing the Arsenal defeat with thigh trouble.
Hughes added: "We're a little stretched in defensive areas at the moment and that can happen. Everybody will be needed, I keep emphasising that to the guys who are not in the team at the moment.
"It was just a warm-down session today but we hope tomorrow that Ryan Shawcross and Jonathan Walters will be an option. They've been outside today whether they join in tomorrow we don't know."
