Danny Higginbotham has insisted that Giannelli Imbula and Glenn Whelan can form a "very good midfield partnership" for Stoke City.

There had been suggestions that Imbula, who joined the Potters during last month's transfer window for a club-record £18.3m, would replace Whelan in the starting lineup.

However, despite having acknowledged that the pair must sort out the communications problems that were apparent during the 3-0 loss to Everton last weekend, Higginbotham stressed that they can play together.

"I think we might be seeing the start of a very good midfield partnership between Glenn Whelan and Giannelli Imbula," the ex-Stoke defender wrote in The Sentinel.

"I don't see Imbula coming in to take his place because they look like different players to me. Imbula certainly looks like he's got the capability to get forward more than Glenn and so leave the anchoring to him.

"I thought there were communication problems between Glenn and Imbula first half last week, but that's hardly surprising considering the new lad speaks a different language and had only been at the club a few days."

Stoke are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Bournemouth.