Robert Huth was suspended for Stoke's defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday

Stoke City defender Robert Huth has said it is vital that his side show a return to form and pick up points over the Christmas weekend.

The Potters go to Manchester City on Boxing Day followed by a home game with in-form Birmingham City two days later.

"City have got a new manager, they've just beaten Chelsea, and then it's Birmingham who are on a run of form at the moment," Huth told BBC Radio Stoke.

"It's not going to be easy but we need to stick together and see it out."

The Potters have slipped to 11th position in the Premier League after a run of four matches without a victory.

Huth was suspended for the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, but is expected to return to the team for the trip to Eastlands.

Roberto Mancini will be taking charge of Manchester City for the first time, but Stoke's £5m signing from Middlesbrough is hopeful that it will not have a positive impact on the home side.

"Hopefully not this time, but normally it does," admitted Huth. "With the manager gone, the players are going to be wanting to impress the new manager.

"It's bad timing for us but we have to go there and try to get a result."

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