Scott Hogan scored his first goals since signing for the club last Saturday as his brace earned the Potters their first point of the season at home to Derby County.

Stoke haven't had the best of starts to the season with Nathan Jones' side yet to pick up a victory in their opening three fixtures.

The Potters will be aiming to improve on last season's 16th position, and supporters will be hoping that the strikers brought in over the summer can improve the previous season's goalscoring problem.

The squad scored just 45 goals in the league last season, which apart from Bolton (relegated) and Ipswich (relegated), was the lowest tally in the division.

One of the strikers that Nathan Jones has opted to bring to the club is Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan on a season-long loan.

The 27-year-old had a torrid time at Villa park never reaching the same type of form that he achieved at Brentford.

Stoke have opted for Hogan as a forward to help boost their strike force, and from first glimpses, it looks like a smart deal. The Irish international scored twice in the Potters' well-earned draw at home to a strong Derby side.

The top scorer for the Potters last season was Benik Afobe. He's now gone to Bristol City on loan for the season, he scored just eight goals in the 2018-2019 campaign showing how desperate Stoke are for some attacking options.

Hogan has already scored a quarter of Afobe's goals with just three games of the season completed. It's not just his goals that have caught the eye though.

The striker had a 100% dribbling success rate and a 64% passing accuracy showing that he's doing more than just score. To be a stronger team, the Potters must make sure when playing two strikers that they can link, not just together, but with the midfield.

He can be the main man but they must be patient with him. If Hogan can regain the form he once had at Brentford then there is a fantastic Championship striker, ability-wise at Stoke. He showed this with a 0.65 xG on the weekend. A number that he'll be looking to keep improving.

A partnership with Lee Gregory was what Jones opted to start with against Phillip Cocu's side on Saturday. It seemed to cause a number of problems for the Rams defence, even forcing them into a half-time substitute where they brought on another defender.

This partnership could blossom due to their friendship off the pitch. Gregory and Hogan shared a dressing room together back when both of them played for Halifax Town.

If he is to be Stoke's main man the key is backing and confidence. He knows where the back of the next is but he must be given the necessary backing from not just the boss, but also the supporters. If Hogan can get back to his best then Stoke have a great striker on their hands.