Tom Cannon: Stoke City boss reveals pep talks with four-goal striker

Stoke City head coach Narcis Pelach said he was delighted that Tom Cannon had found his form in such spectacular fashion after the pair recently discussed the striker’s form.

Pelach watched Cannon score four goals as the Potters beat Portsmouth 6-1 on Wednesday, giving the Spaniard his first win since taking over 15 days ago.

Cannon signed a season-long loan deal from Leicester City with Stoke on deadline day, with a number of Championship clubs hoping to sign him.

His goals were his first since scoring for the Foxes in an FA Cup game at Millwall on January 6, and he had played four times for the Potters without scoring.

“Tom was struggling a bit,” Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke.

“The performances with Stoke weren’t great but we were chatting the other day and I said: ‘Look, I’ll support you, I won’t let you down, so trust that you’re a good player’.’ It was a very nice conversation.

“I said he needs time and patience and everything will come and he has had his reward and I am very, very happy for him.”