Pulis waxes lyrical about Crouch

The 30-year-old's summer move from Tottenham was a sign of how far the Potters have come since their promotion to the Barclays Premier League in 2008 and he has repaid them with eight goals, notching his 100th league strike on Monday.

Crouch joined Stoke from Spurs in the summer along with Jonathan Woodgate and Wilson Palacios, and Pulis is thrilled with how they have settled, saying: "Crouch has been fantastic. I thought him and Woodgate were very good [on Monday] and they've got great quality."

He added: "It's not just what they do on the pitch, it's what they're like off the field as well, they've been absolutely fantastic.

"They've come to the football club as top players who have played for top clubs and their attitude towards the rest of the group has been fantastic.

"I'm so pleased Peter's not only got his 100th goal but his 101st as well."

Pulis declined to speculate on whether Crouch could make the England squad for this summer's European Championships but he certainly does not feel the striker's powers are waning.

"He's unplayable at times. If you stick the right quality in to him, he'll score goals. And he's as fit as a flea," added Pulis after Crouch battled through the Christmas programme despite illness.

"He's played the full game against Wigan, come here and played the full game and is defending balls in our box, up there winning balls in their box and absolutely brilliant.

"I think we might have caught him at the right time. He's the type of player who always wants to do well, he always seems very enthusiastic about being a footballer and that's a great commodity."

Source: PA

Source: PA