O'Connor joined Stoke's backroom team in 2006

Stoke City first team coach Mark O'Connor says the club now has a squad deep enough to cope with the week to week demands of the Premier League.

Six internationals were among the Stoke substitutes at West Brom - something O'Connor believes shows progress.

"We think we've improved the squad, we've got good players and the depth on the bench is fantastic," he told BBC Radio Stoke

"That tells me that we've moved forward," he added.

The former Bournemouth and Gillingham winger believes the Potters' extra strength in depth will be crucial to their attempts to improve on last season's 11th placed league finish.

"With certain teams if they have their first XI out they're very difficult to beat but I'm afraid that with injuries and suspensions and the amount of games that internationals play you know you're not going to have your first XI on the pitch all the time," he said.

"To be able to change one player for another and not make much difference means you're still getting that level of performance that we need.

"Jon Walters came on (at West Brom), scored two goals and looked sharp and Tuncay was very good when he came on.

"You need those players to come on, they're not sulking, they're in the team ethic and they've delivered."

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