Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has claimed that a run in the League Cup can boost his side's fortunes in the Premier League.

The Potters make the trip to Birmingham City in the fourth round of the competition on Tuesday.

Hughes is hoping that a string of positive results in the cup can help his team climb away from danger in the league table after a winless run of six matches.

"We are enjoying playing at the moment but we need to get results" he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News. "We can't keep patting ourselves on the back and say we are playing well. We need to start winning.

"I've always said cup competitions can help your league form so if you get on a good run in the cup it can filter into your league form so it is an important game for us."

Hughes won the League Cup three times as a player before his retirement in 2002.