Stoke players believe they can secure top-half finish, says Butland
Stoke City stopper Jack Butland says the belief is still strong among the Potters players that they can finish in the top half of the Premier League.
Mark Hughes’s side have suffered a dip in form in recent weeks, but a 3-1 win over Hull City at the weekend prevented a run of five straight defeats.
The Potters are 11th in the division, one point behind Watford in 10th and Southampton in ninth.
Keeper Butland has missed the entire season after breaking his ankle while on England duty in March 2016.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images
However, the 24-year-old custodian believes Hughes’s men will kick on in their final five games as they look to finish the season with a flourish.
“There is still the belief we can reach our targets and we have the players to do it,” Butland said.
“The four games before last weekend set us back a little but it’s still in our own hands and we now have games that we are more than capable of winning. It’s down to us and no-one else.
“Every game will have something riding on it and I think that is good, because if there were a few nothing games then it would be a bit more difficult, but with everything at stake in each of them then it is right up our street.
“I’m sure the boys will be ready and firing to try and win them all.”
