CROUCH HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE REST

TO PUT Peter Crouch’s enduring quality into context, it is worth noting that when he signed for Stoke in 2011, the crosses were being supplied by Jermaine Pennant and Mathew Etherington. While his former team-mates have embraced Billericay Town and retirement, Crouch is still proving a meaningful Premier League factor. On Saturday he came off the bench with Stoke 2-1 down, muscled straight into Harry Maguire, one of England’s coming defensive forces, and within four minutes had equalised, arriving on to Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner with perfect timing. ‘He’s unique and obviously he’s still very adept at what he does,’ said his manager, Mark Hughes. ‘We know how to deal with him, how to make sure he’s effective, so there’s no reason for him to leave. ‘He gets frustrated but we will give him the games, without a shadow of a doubt. He’s playing well, I thought his general play was good. In my time here — and it’s my fifth season — I haven’t seen any diminishing of his powers, that’s a credit to him.’ At the other end of the scale, Demarai Gray produced a performance to impress England manager Gareth Southgate, watching from the stands. The 21-year-old was Leicester’s key influence and set up five good chances that went unconverted. Vicente Iborra gave Leicester the lead. Shaqiri equalised. Riyad Mahrez restored the visitors’ advantage before Crouch made his mark.