Whelan signed a four-year contract with Stoke in September

Glenn Whelan believes Stoke City will have a big say in the destination of the Premier League title.

The Potters go to Chelsea on Sunday and end the season at Old Trafford against Manchester United on 9 May.

"It's something that we've looked at," the Irish midfielder told BBC Radio Stoke. "When we went to Chelsea [in the FA Cup] we gave them a good game.

"Our season hasn't finished yet and we'll be going into those games hoping to shake things up a little bit."

United closed the gap at the top to a single point with victory in the Manchester derby, while Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham.

If you're not in the team, you work hard to get back in it Glenn Whelan

Stoke, who lost 2-1 at home to Bolton on Saturday, need three points from their remaining four matches to surpass the points tally they reached in their first season in the Premier League [45].

Whelan lost his place in the first-team following the Republic of Ireland's controversial World Cup play-off final defeat by France in November, and said hard work was important for him to return to the side.

"When I'm not in the team, I'll work twice as hard to get back in," added Whelan.

"I've had a run of games now, my form's been decent, but whatever the manager's decisions are, you have to accept them. If you're not in the team, you work hard to get back in it."

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