Stoke v Bournemouth preview: Marko Arnautovic returns from suspension

Stoke City will look to continue their upward trajectory in the Premier League when Bournemouth visit the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Mark Hughes' men are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games, including beating Swansea, Hull City and Sunderland in that run.

Victories have dried up for Bournemouth, who have lost their last two matches against Sunderland and Middlesbrough. Eddie Howe's men are also without a win away from home this season and haven't kept a clean sheet on the road for 10 games.

Team news

Glenn Whelan is an injury concern for Stoke but Marko Arnautovic is set to return from suspension.

Whelan suffered a hamstring injury during the international break, limping out of the Republic of Ireland's win in Austria, while fellow midfielder Geoff Cameron is still injured. The United States international has missed the last two matches after hyper-extending his knee and has suffered a setback in his bid to regain full fitness.

Xherdan Shaqiri has recovered from his hamstring problem and is back in contention.

Bournemouth will make a late call on midfielder Andrew Surman and forward Callum Wilson, who have both been recovering from hamstring problems.

Defender Adam Smith serves a one-match suspension after collecting a fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat by Sunderland before the international break.

Midfielder Lewis Cook (ankle) and Australia defender Brad Smith (foot) are continuing their rehabilitation.

Opta stats

Stoke and Bournemouth have met 22 times, with Stoke victorious in half of those encounters. Bournemouth won five of the meetings and the points were shared in six.

The sides faced each other for the first time in the top division last season, as Stoke completed a Premier League double with a 2-1 victory at home before going on to win 3-1 win at the Vitality Stadium in February.

The Potters have won six of their last eight meetings in all competitions between the sides.

If previous results are anything to go by, Saturday's clash should see goals as there has been no draw between the teams in their last seven encounters.

Hughes' side currently sit 12th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone but five points from the top six.

Bournemouth trail their opponents by just one point and sit in 13th spot ahead of their visit to Stoke. Ten of their 12 points this season have been won at home.

Merson's prediction

I never go against Stoke at home, as you know! They're flying at the moment, they've turned the corner, and Bournemouth have had two shocking results against Boro and Sunderland.

They were on a nice little run, and I don't think they took their foot off the gas per se, but they got a tad lackadaisical.

At the end of the day, they've put themselves in a bit of a problem now. If they lose this, that's three on the trot, and when one minute you're looking at mid-table, the next you're looking at teams around you and you're dragged back into it.

Stoke have been as good as anybody in the last few weeks, and when Wilfried Bony has his confidence, he's so hard to play against.

Joe Allen is playing as well as anybody, Arnautovic I have always said is top drawer, and Shaqiri too. When they're all clicking at the same time, Stoke are a force.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1

Betting

Stoke are Sky Bet's 6/5 favourites for the victory with Bournemouth 9/4, while the draw is priced at 12/5.

Both sides are odds-against for top-half finishes at 2/1 and 5/2 respectively, but are considered even less likely to face relegation at 12/1 and 9/1.