Crouch keen to prove point to Stoke boss Hughes after new deal

Fresh after signing a new contract, Peter Crouch now wants to concentrate on nailing down his place in Mark Hughes’ Stoke City team for the rest of the season.

The veteran striker penned a new one-year deal to stay at the Bet365 Stadium after breaking back into the first team and scoring in consecutive Premier League games against Chelsea and Watford.

With Wilfried Bony and Mame Diouf set for the Africa Cup of Nations, Crouch has a chance to prove to Hughes that he should be Stoke’s leading striker for the rest of the campaign – even though the club are linked with Napoli’s Manola Gabbiadini this month.

Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

And, after waiting for his chance on the sidelines, Crouch is ready to grasp his opportunity with both hands.

“The manager has said right from the start that I’d have an important role to play; that’s been the case recently and hopefully it will be towards the end of the season,” he said.

“I work hard every day and I knew that when that chance came along I had to grab it.  Hopefully I’ve done myself a bit of justice recently and I’d like to stay in.

“The fact that the contract is out of my mind now is a great relief for me and now I can just concentrate on pushing us up the league.”