Five things we learned before Stoke vs Newcastle

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 1: Newcastle players seen L-R Vurnon Anita, Daryl Janmaat, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ayoze Perez and Siem de Jong warm up under the watchful eye of Newcastle's Head Coach Steve McClaren (3rd from left) and Newcastle's Assistant Coach Paul Simpson (R) during the Newcastle United Training session at The Newcastle United Training Centre on March 1, 2016, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) /

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Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has called on his side to up their levels during the Newcastle United fixture.

The former Manchester City gaffer was responding to claims that the Potters’ players already have one eye on the beach.

The Stoke Sentinel reported that he said: “There’s no one here, in and around the football team or squad, that’s
thinking that we’re just going to taper off because we don’t do that. We don’t do that here.”

Next: Shay Given thinks Newcastle will beat the drop