Stoke City boss Mark Hughes is thrilled to have retained the services of striker Jon Walters in the summer.

The Republic of Ireland international looked certain to leave the Britannia Stadium prior to the season, but the club's decision to award him a two-year contract changed his mind.

The 32-year-old has since then scored five goals in nine games for the Staffordshire outfit this season.

Hughes said: "It's fair to say we got very close to a point where he may well have left in the summer.

"That was something I certainly didn't want. But I'm delighted and in the end everybody is happy.

"I'm not sure whether I can take any credit for it but I was aware that nobody had got back to him and just asked whether the contract was still on the table and where we were up to.

"Jon is a low maintenance professional, a real leader who comes in and does his job and he's a trigger for us in that he drags people along with him.

"He's a leader. He's got where he is by hard work, resilience and determination and no shortage of talent."