Whelan targets more goals for Stoke

Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan is targeting more goals after being deployed in a more attacking role under new manager Mark Hughes.

The 29-year-old has not featured on the score sheet for the Premier League outfit since notching in a 3-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in November 2011.

Having been played in a more defensive role under previous boss Tony Pulis, the former Sheffield Wednesday player is keen to have more of an attacking impetus this season.

“A manager picks you to do a certain role and I went in there to do a job which I was asked to do,” Whelan told The Sentinel.

“If I can pitch in and score, which I would like to do and have done previously, then so be it.”

The Republic of Ireland international believes the Stoke squad is adapting well to the change in management and are responding well to a new style of play.

“Obviously, things have changed with a new manager coming in with different ideas,” he continued.

“As a player, you have to open yourself up to what he wants to get into his team.

“I think everyone knows what he wants by now. He’s trying to get us to get the ball down a lot more, not being as direct and playing through midfield a bit more.”