After Stoke City lost star midfielder Bojan with an ACL injury, many wondered if the Potters could keep up their strong run of form and stay in the top half of the Premier League table.
In the first match without Bojan, Jonathan Walters picked up the slack.
[ RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS: Stoke City 3-1 Queens Park Rangers ]
Walters scored his first career hat trick in his 200th appearance for Stoke as the Potters cruised to a 3-1 win over a lackluster Queens Park Rangers side.
The Irish international scored twice within the first 35 minutes, both times working off of Stephen Ireland to give Stoke City a two goal lead. Leading 2-1 in the final minutes, Walters used his head to add an insurance goal for the Potters as QPR remain winless away from Loftus Road.
Walters joins Mame Diouf as the two Potters to be named Player of the Week this season, and Stoke will be reliant on the two as they continue to battle for a top-ten finish.
Premier League Player of the Week
Week 1: Raheem Sterling, Liverpool
Week 2: Nacer Chadli, Tottenham Hotspur
Week 3: Diego Costa, Chelsea
Week 4: Diego Costa, Chelsea
Week 5: Frank Lampard, Manchester City
Week 6: Edin Dzeko, Manchester City
Week 7: David De Gea, Manchester United
Week 8: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Week 9: Wilfried Bony, Swansea City
Week 10: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
Week 11: Shane Long, Southampton
Week 12: Danny Ings, Burnley
Week 13: Lee Cattermole, Sunderland
Week 14: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
Week 15: Andy Carroll, West Ham
Week 16: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
Week 17: Charlie Austin, Queens Park Rangers
Week 18: Eden Hazard, Chelsea
Week 19: Mame Diouf, Stoke City
Week 20: Frank Lampard, Manchester City
Week 21: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
Week 22: Eljero Elia, Southampton
Week 23: Jonathan Walters, Stoke City