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Xherdan Shaqiri has given a forthright interview to a Swiss magazine bemoaning the quality around him at Stoke City.

The forward has been quoted by numerous reputable Switzerland media outlets today following comments close to the bone in a piece with Schweizer Illustrierte.

He insists he will not Löffel verwerfen (down tools) as the Potters fight to stay in the Premier League.

But it is certainly appearing increasingly unlikely that Stoke's biggest hope of beating the drop will see out a contract that runs to 2020.

He is quoted as saying: "The feeling that even a Ronaldinho could do little in this team is sobering.

"I had to realise that it's a bit different when you have players like Ribéry and Thiago at Bayern or Icardi and Kovacic at Inter.

"Here at Stoke I can not exert too much influence, simply because there is a lack of quality around me."

(Image: Leanne Bagnall)

He added: "I can not just Löffel verwerfen but it would take something extreme for Stoke in the transfer market this summer to revive my enthusiasm."

Shaqiri joined Stoke for £12m from Inter Milan in 2015 and has been enjoying his most productive personal season in a tumultuous campaign for the club as a whole.

The 26-year-old, who starred in Switzerland's qualification campaign for the World Cup, has scored seven goals and opted to play for his club over country against Everton last time out to try to help the cause.

He has spent the last fortnight resting a calf strain and should be fit to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.