Stoke have appointed Paul Lambert as their new manager after the Scot signed a two-and-half-year contract to replace sacked Mark Hughes.

The Potters are due to play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday evening but the 48-year-old will not officially take charge until Tuesday.

“Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results,” said chairman Peter Coates.

“He’s a man who backed himself as a player, none more so than when he turned down contract offers in Scotland to go on trial in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and it’s obvious he adopts the same approach as a manager.”