Stoke City manager Nathan Jones has insisted that he is not worried about potential transfer interest in midfielder Badou N'Diaye, after speaking to the Stoke Sentinel.

The midfielder spent last season on loan with Turkish side Galatasaray, and his future at the bet365 Stadium looked uncertain at the start of the season after spending time away from the club and appearing to be out-of-favour,

But after making his return to first-team action against Bristol City last month, the 28-year-old has established himself as a hugely important player for Stoke, making six appearances in all competitions this term.

The defensive midfielder has put in a string of impressive performances for the Potters, and has helped them pick up their first two league wins of the season over the last couple of weeks.

If he keeps up this form, then scouts from other clubs are bound to be alerted ahead of January - but Jones has insisted that he is not worried about interest in N'Diaye.

Via the Stoke Sentinel, he said: "They might be (interested) but if he continues the form he’s in then we’ll be a better side. I’m not worried about who’s watching anyone at the club.

"Badou’s been magnificent since he’s come back in. We wanted a top defensive midfield player because it’s key to how we play and he is one.

"I couldn’t use him all the way through pre-season, all through August and not until the second week of September. It might have been a different story if we could because he’s galvanised everyone."

Stoke now sit two points adrift of safety in the Sky Bet Championship table after a 2-0 victory over Fulham at the weekend, and they travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

The Verdict

Many thought that N'Diaye would be on his way out of Stoke in the summer, but what an improvement he has made under Jones.

He has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the division - he is so strong and so hard to knock off the ball, but he is also technically-gifted too.

Alongside Peter Etebo and Sam Clucas, Stoke have a top midfield trio.

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