Manager Michael O'Neil has credited Chelsea icon John Obi Mikel for Stoke City's recent clean sheets ahead of his side's Championship clash against Huddersfield Town at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

By keeping a clean sheet in their last game before the international break, the Potters took their tally of clean sheets to nine in all competitions so far this season and their marque summer signing Mikel was involved in six of the matches.

O'Neil believes that Mikel's brilliant form, playing as a holding midfielder and shielding the back four, has contributed to the clean sheets.

Speaking to reporters at Friday's pre-match press conference, O'Neil stated : "Our number of clean sheets has been impressive. I think even going back to the start of this calendar year, I think we rank among the best in the division in terms of clean sheets.

"It’s important how we defend as a team, not just a back four.

"John Obi Mikel has made us stronger in that area as well, we’re stronger in midfield and we’ve been stronger as a unit in how we defend from the front."

Mikel has gone the distance in all eleven matches contested by Stoke City in the Championship so far and wore the captain's armband in his last six appearances.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : stokecityfc.com