Stoke City boss Mark Hughes believes they're capable of becoming a top six club.

He says there is more to come in the future, but admits major investment would be needed to break into the top-five elite.

"You never know," he reasoned, "in any given season there could be a run of form you hit that can take you on to eighth, seventh, sixth.

"I got to sixth one year with Blackburn, so it can be done. But it gets harder because of the finance, so the top teams will always be that bit stronger because of the resources at their disposal.

"But the money is also improving the middle group of teams and so they are closer to the top teams than they were in the past - and that's why top teams are getting beaten more."