WE’VE GONE TO POTTERS Clucas says guilt’s tripped up side

It’s tough to get back in. Since then it has been chopping and changing. The chairman has been fantastic, pumping money in, but it’s been hard to get that settled team, settled club. Perhaps too much change.

“But all of us have under-performed. I put myself in that bracket. I’ve been here two years now.

“I’ve not performed as well as I expect to myself. We all know that in the dressing room. The boys will shoulder it. Maybe in the last two months we have tried too much as we have felt guilty about it. We’re going away and doing too much individually rather than collectively. I read an interview with Jack (Butland, left) and he said that – and I think he’s maybe right.

“He’s been trying too hard and it’s cost him his form. We have big players who have played at the top. We have had a tough couple of years. We are here now and we are the ones that have to turn it around.”

The accusation around the stadium among supporters is that the current crop are happy just to pick up their wages. Stoke, bankrolled by bet365, have one of the highest wage bills in the division.

Clucas added: “That’s easy to say when you sit on the outside – that we just pick up our money and go home. I can only speak for myself but it’s not like that at all.

“In terms of commitment, this is one of the best dressing rooms I’ve been in. I’m honest, I’ve played a lot of football. I’ve played in every league. I know I’m not playing as well as I can. I’m disappointed. I’ll try and drag myself through it.

“Sometimes you are going to have a bad day. You are going to pick up form and you are going to have spells when you don’t. We have definitely had a tough period. But quality players are here and they don’t turn bad overnight.”

HULL City boss Grant McCann faces an injury headache at Queens Park Rangers today.

The Tigers are struggling with a demanding festive period, and McCann (below) has seen his absentee list grow. Callum Elder limped off with a hamstring injury against Nottingham Forest and is a big doubt for the trip to Loftus Road.

Keane Lewis-Potter is also expected to miss out after complaining of dizziness and sickness in recent days.

Northern Ireland international Josh Magennis looks set to be out until the New Year with a hamstring problem.

Hoops boss Mark Warburton has no fresh injury concerns and is desperate to end a worrying run of just two wins in their last 12 games.

QPR midfielder Matt Smith stressed: “The Hull game is the perfect chance to react after a poor run.

“The best thing for us is to focus on the game ahead, and not what’s gone before it.”