Chelsea legend Clive Walker has indicated he does not believe Mark Hughes' repeated assertions that Stoke City have put their physical days behind them and thinks summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko could be involved against the Potters as a result.

The Potters were renowned for their physical style of play when Tony Pulis was in charge of the club for the second time between 2006 and 2013.




But present Stoke boss Hughes, who has brought several flair players to the club, has time and again stated that the Staffordshire outfit are no longer a physical team.

However, Walker believes Stoke are still physical and hence feels Bakayoko could feature at the weekend alongside N’Golo Kante and not Cesc Fabregas.
 


“I think people like Bakayoko might come into play because of physicality – we're playing Stoke City, although Mark Hughes keeps telling you that's in the past”, he said on Chelsea TV.

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“N'Golo Kante will obviously be involved.

“Where Cesc Fabregas will fit in, we'll have to look at that.”

Bakayoko, who was snapped up by Chelsea from Monaco on a five-year deal in July, has thus far managed to clock up 266 minutes over five appearances in all competitions for the Blues, scoring once and setting up another.