Mark Hughes is facing two potentially crucial games as he fights for his future at Stoke City.

Hughes takes on Burnley on Tuesday night with his position fragile after a torrid 18 months which has seen him come under growing pressure from supporters.

Stoke have lost three of their last four Premier League games and the situation reached crisis point when Hughes and his players were confronted by angry fans at Stoke railway station on Saturday night, hours after the 5-1 capitulation against Tottenham Hotspur.

It is understood Hughes' job will be safe even if his team suffer defeat at Turf Moor but this weekend’s game against West Ham could be pivotal to his hopes of staying in charge.

Peter Coates, the chairman, is determined to stay loyal to Hughes – who guided Stoke to three successive ninth-placed finishes in a row – but results and performances are becoming a huge concern for the club's board.

Hughes has challenged his players to use Saturday’s heated confrontation with fans as inspiration as they head into a big week.