Former Manchester City defender Andy Hinchcliffe has criticised Stoke City's players for not showing the same amount of commitment during Nathan Jones' time at the club compared to Michael O'Neill's tenure.

The Potters parted ways with Jones earlier this month following a dismal start to the 2019/20 campaign which saw them drop into the Championship relegation zone.

Whilst it seemed as if the 46-year-old had turned a corner at the start of October after leading his side to victories over Swansea City and Fulham, defeats to Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall resulted in him being sacked by Stoke.

Having opted to appoint O'Neill as their new manager last week, the Potters then produced a spirited against Barnsley at Oakwell.

A sublime brace from Sam Clucas combined with goals from Joe Allen and Lee Gregory helped Stoke secure all three points on their travels last Saturday.

As a result of this victory, O'Neill's side moved up to 23rd in the Championship standings.

Speaking to the Sky Sports EFL podcast (as cited by the Stoke Sentinel) about the Potters, Hinchcliffe said: "You have to feel a bit sorry for Nathan Jones.

"If he watched that game as I did he would have been wondering where that desire and quality was when he really needed it.

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"It was a good performance and a very important win when you're battling relegation, but if you look at the players they have, they owe Stoke big time.

"If that's the first step on the big turnaround then great, but I looked at some of the player reactions when they were scoring the goals and it was as if they were a team challenging for promotion.

"It was just a start."

Stoke will be looking to back up their recent display against Barnsley when they face Wigan Athletic at the bet365 Stadium on November 23rd.

The Verdict

Whilst it is fair to say that Stoke's players under performed during Jones' time at the club, it could be argued that his lack of experience at Championship level as a manager also played a role in their demise.

With O'Neill's arrival providing individuals with a chance to start afresh, it would not be at all surprising if the Potters beat Wigan later this month.

If Stoke start to thrive under the guidance of the former Shamrock Rovers boss, they will have a fantastic chance of preserving their second-tier status in 2020.