Stoke City boss Mark Hughes says Joe Allen is staying at the club

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has stressed Joe Allen is going nowhere in the January transfer window.

The Wales international is enjoying a successful spell at the Bet365 Stadium after his career looked to have faltered at Liverpool.

Allen - not normally known as a prolific scorer - has netted six times in 16 appearances for club and country this season, including a purple patch where he scored five times in four games during September and October.

The 26-year-old's form has inevitably seen him linked with a number of other clubs but Hughes insists Allen - who joined for £13m over the summer - is going nowhere.

"Joe has only just come to the club, he has a long contract," Hughes said ahead of Saturday's home game with Bournemouth.

"It has worked out well for all parties. He needed to move to get this chance to show what he can do, and that was the motivation for him.

"He needed to find the right club and he has found that here. He enjoys how we train and how we play, so we are delighted with what he is producing for us.

"We are coming to the end of November and it won't be too long until every press conference will be about who is coming and who is going. It is a sign of things to come and we have to accept that.

"We have to abide by rules where we can purchase players in only two short windows, so when one of those comes around it gets highlighted almost on a daily basis."

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Former Wales manager Hughes also revealed Glenn Whelan is doubtful to face Bournemouth after picking up an injury in Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win over Austria in World Cup Qualifying.

"We have got a doubt over Glenn Whelan. He came off in the game for Ireland, having lasted 25 minutes," added Hughes.

"He may have been compromised by some stiffness which we have managed to release him from. He is still a doubt though. We will see if we can get him out on the training pitch today [Friday].

"As a team we have a nice base at the moment and Glenn is important to that. We are stretched in the middle because Geoff Cameron is still injured.

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"I always thought November internationals were for play-offs, so these ones are difficult to take, especially the second round of fixtures - the friendlies. There is a good demand on international players, and we know that when we sign them so we can't moan too much.

"You can try and improve relationships with international managers, but they are under their own pressures and they will want to do well for the job they are in.

"You can speak to managers though and highlight any issues, but we can't stop players from being selected, which is something I would never do anyway."

Hughes also gave a positive update on the fitness of goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has been out since March with an ankle problem.

The England international has suffered setbacks during his rehabilitation process but Hughes is confident he is now on the mend, and also praised Lee Grant for performing well in Butland's absence since he joined on loan from Derby in August.

"Jack is progressing really well. He isn't fully up to speed yet but we are hopeful that if he has a good week next week, then he will be back within the senior group," said Hughes.

"We are encouraged by the last couple of weeks for him because previously he would get so far and then break down again. It's going to be difficult when he is back because Lee has been fantastic."

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