Crouch hoping for regular starting spot at Stoke

LONDON: Stoke striker Peter Crouch (pic) is hopeful his recent form will earn him a regular starting spot at the English Premier League club, said the 36-year-old.

Crouch has been largely used as a substitute at Stoke under manager Mark Hughes, with nine of his 11 league appearances this campaign coming from the bench.

He has, however, started the club’s last two matches and was confident of continuing his run.

“I always felt I could still start games and hopefully I’ve proved that,” Crouch was quoted as saying by talkSPORT.

“It would be nice to have a little run now and stay in the team. That’s what I wanted and signing the contract was where I wanted to be as well.

“I’ve run about and put myself around, so I’ve proved, having played two games in a week, that I’m fit enough to do things at this level. “Hopefully there’s a role for me.” Crouch, who signed a one-year contract extension at Stoke last week, has scored three league goals this campaign and had his first assist when he flicked on the ball for Mame Diouf’s goal during last weekend’s 2-1 win over Swansea.

“I enjoyed it, I really did. It was nice to have someone like Mame reading the flick-ons and up there to help,” Crouch added.

“Myself and him have different attributes and it can really work.

“Invariably, I’ve played up front on my own and been isolated, so to have a partner up there was a welcome relief.”

Stoke’s victory over Swansea ended a four-game winless streak in the league as Hughes’ team climbed to 13th ahead of their trip to sixthplaced Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.