Stoke City

Stoke are currently propping up the Premier League, sitting on one point after four games with a goal difference of minus eight, but Hughes suggests that this early season malaise will soon be rectified.

"We haven't yet been able to produce a really strong 90 minute performance, but that will come," he said. 

"Obviously it is early season form and we have a number of players who maybe aren't at the level that we know we are capable of. 

"At the level we play at we need at least eight or nine who are playing at the top of their game. That will change, very quickly I would suggest."   

Stoke City

Mark Hughes has started on the front foot this morning, saying that the FA charge he received in the wake of his red card against Tottenham on Saturday "rubbed salt into the wounds".

"The incident itself was maybe interpreted differently than I thought it should have been, but it is what it is," he said.

"There is no point appealing because if you appeal and lose, which more often than not you do, then it costs you more money, and I would prefer to give that to my grandchildren."

BBC Radio 5 live

On the way into the office? Still in bed? Either way, why not listen to the BBC Radio 5 live Football Daily Podcast for reaction to last night's action.

Image source, PA

Things just keep getting better and better for ParalympicsGB in Rio.

Five more golds on day eight takes them to 48 overall - and that will definitely reach 50 today as Wimbledon wheelchair tennis champion Gordon Reid plays compatriot Alfie Hewett in the singles final and the dressage mixed team have their title confirmed

Here's what to look out for in the early session (all times BST):

13:35 - Megan Giglia in the women's C1-2-3 Road Race

14:15 - Paul Blake in the men's 400m T36 final

15:45 - Netherlands v GB in the women's wheelchair basketball bronze medal match

16:00 - GB v China in the men's team class 6-8 table tennis bronze medal match

16:30 - BC1 boccia player David Smith goes for gold at 16:30

17:00 - GB's David Stone in the men's T1-2 road race

Check out the full day-by-day guide here.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Hughes will not appeal against his Football Association charge for misconduct, despite "disagreeing" with it, Stoke have confirmed. 

Hughes, 52, was sent to the stands during the first half of Stoke's 4-0 loss to Tottenham on Saturday after twice reacting angrily at referee Anthony Taylor's decision. 

Stoke said that they have "concerns in relation to a number of elements" of the decision, highlighting "a potentially inconsistent approach in the enforcement by match officials in instances of managers leaving their technical areas".

The club intend to raise the issue with the FA. And as the club's press conference is set to start imminently, I'm sure we'll have more on that for you soon.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton shared none of United's woes, as they settled in to their Europa League campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Sparta Prague.

Charlie Austin scored twice and Jay Rodriguez added the third in the 92 minute as Claude Puel celebrated his first win at the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester Untied fans may not be too enamored with the idea of competing in the Europa League, but that doesn't mean they won't be feeling rather peeved this morning after their 1-0 defeat in Feyenoord last night. 

Jose Mourinho made eight changes from the team that lost 2-1 in the Manchester derby, but despite United controlling possession, a front four of Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford failed to find a way through. 

Things looked so rosy after Jose's first three games in charge. Back to earth with a bump?

The Daily Star takes a different angle than its rivals, reporting that Antonio Conte has insisted that Cesc Fabregas at the club, despite the Spain midfielder not starting a game so far this season. 

Image source, Daily Star

The story that hackers allegedly from Russia have released athletes' medical files stolen from the World Anti-Doping Agency again dominates the Guardian and the Times' back pages, with Sir Bradley Wiggins the focus of the latter, and the British Olympic Association's expectation that more British Olympians will have their medical records released the former.

Image source, The Times

Image source, Guardian

The Sun and Daily Express are among the papers to lead on Jose Mourinho's dismal Europa League debut with Manchester United, that saw his team lose 1-0 to Feyenoord.

Mourinho looks a little like he's about to strangle one of his player's in that picture. If Ashley Young goes missing, you heard it here first.

Image source, Sun

Image source, Daily Express

Hello and welcome to Sportsday.

It's Friday, which only means one thing - the end of the working week and the start of weekend festivities. Unless you're a sports journalist of course, when Friday is essentially Monday. But hey, don't feel sorry for us.

We've got a busy day ahead previewing the weekend's sport, with 12 Premier League press conferences alone, plus we'll be bringing you day nine of the Paralympics once that kicks off after midday. 

But first, let's take a look at this morning's back pages.