Stoke boss hails 'talented' Tom Cannon after Ireland striker's four ...

Cannon became the first Stoke City player in 24 years to score four goals in a single match on Wednesday night as his side hammered Portsmouth 6-1 in the Championship.

It also proved to be a remarkable evening for the Irish involved as six of the seven goals were scored by Ireland internationals, as Cannon bagged four and senior cap Andrew Moran (on loan from Brighton) added Stoke’s sixth, after Under-21 striker Mark O’Mahony scored his first goal for Portsmouth in the first-half. The Corkman is also on loan from Brighton.

But the headlines went to Cannon (21), who took home the match ball after an impressive display having arrived at the Potters on loan from Premier League Leicester City last August.

He failed to find the net across his first three league starts last month but took out that frustration on Portsmouth, with the 38-minute four-goal haul timely as Heimir Hallgrimsson names his Ireland squad for the October window this afternoon - Cannon was left out of last month’s squad.

Stoke boss Pelach hailed the striker’s performance and revealed how the pair had a heart-to-heart chat after Cannon was hooked at half-time in last week’s defeat at Middlesbrough.

“He is a talented boy. Hopefully this is the beginning of something nice for him,” said Pelach, who picked up his first win as Stoke boss last night having taken the reins a fortnight ago.

“We had a very nice chat this week because I replaced him the other day at half-time. I said ‘I cannot be waiting for performances in the middle of a game. I needed to do what was right for the team. But I want to let you know I am going to back you. Three, four, five bad performances will not change my opinion about you’.

“I know him, I know he is a good player but he needs game time, he needs to get ready from a physical point of view. Life is about confidence and I have confidence in him. I told him, ‘You need to feel free and you will start again’.

“Even the performance against Middlesbrough I wasn't happy with, but I'm not that kind of coach. I want to do something that is based on trust. We had a good chat together and today I'm very happy with his performance.

“I think he deserves this. On the pitch you do what you can, not what you want. There is an opponent in front of you and he’s a young player so we have to be supportive. On Wednesday he got his reward. I’m very happy.”

Ireland midfielder Moran (20) also hailed Cannon’s shift and insists it’s vital Stoke use the big win as a springboard to push on for the rest of the campaign.

“It was unreal, honestly when his fourth went in I ran over to him, it was mental. Every time he took a shot it went straight in the corner. He was unbelievable and I’m sure he’ll get many more this season,” said Dubliner Moran.

“I know Tom from Ireland squads and I was telling everyone when he came in how good of a finisher he is.

“I’m buzzing for him to get the four goals. We have had a tough run since the gaffer came in so it was really important to get the first win on the board and hopefully we can push on.”