MH: We are without Stephen Ireland obviously. It is a league rule and there is nothing we can do about that. It is an understandable rule too. He has been really good for us, and we will miss him. We have other players who can play that role though - so I'm not too worried.
MH: It is an important game for us. We are on a decent run in the Premier League, We were obviously disappointed to go out of the cup on Wednesday, but we have a chance to get over that disappointment straight away. It is a game that we want to win and a game that we know we can win. If we can start well, and play to the levels that we have throughout most of the season we should be ok.
MH: Maybe it has been second season syndrome with Christian Benteke. There is no doubt about it in my mind, he is an outstanding player with outstanding ability. I am sure that he will start scoring goals sooner rather than later, but we have to make sure that it doesn't start against us tomorrow.
MH: Crouchy is a bit of a doubt too and Jon Walters has a bit of a problem with his ankle. They are both doubtful, but the real worry is with Ryan. If we have to leave him out tomorrow to be sure of having him over the Christmas period we will do that, because we certainly don't want to lose him long-term.
MH: Robert is still unavailable, and Ryan hasn't trained yet. We are going to give him as long as we can. He will have a fitness test tomorrow morning. If he isn't available we will have to rearrange a few things and make a few changes. He is a doubt at the moment.
Live updates from the pre-match press conference with Mark Hughes to follow shortly...
It's 0-0 in the other game at White Hart Lane between Tottenham and West Ham as well
Cleverley and Welbeck get the second half underway. Come on Stoke!
Let's hope so John! Back come the two sets of players. No changes at the break
and there's the half-time whistle, 0-0. Stoke will be happy with that. There's much more to come after the break
Smalling flicks the corner on, Evans meets it at the back post but his poor control allows Sorensen to smother the ball. Phew!
Two minutes added time says the fourth official, as the visitors win yet another corner
Whelan fouled and Stoke get a free kick. He steps up to fire it at goal from distance but fires it over just over the cross bar
Crouch gets a head to it but cannot direct it goalwards, if only he'd left it Ireland looked destined to get that one!
Cameron with the fantastic searching cross into the box from the right!
On comes the doctors and physios and he goes off for treatment. Looks as though he'll be fine thankfully
Big problems for Palacios here by the looks of it. It could be his problematic groin area. He was down wriggling in agony at first.
The visitors have had quite a number of corners, but neither keeper has had a lot to do in terms of saves yet
Another United corner, and another one cleared. Whelan it was who slides in to get it away
Report and reaction to follow on stokecityfc.com
There's the full-time whistle. No goals here at the KC this evening. Hull with the better chances in the first half, the Potters with there's after the break. Shawcross headed against the bar, whilst Crouch also saw his header saved well by McGregor, to name but two.
Adam will take, all 11 back for Hull. Sadly its straight out of play for a goal kick
Stoke free kick here as we approach full-time. The last chance for a goalscoring chance surely this
Three minutes of added time says the fourth official