Crouch warmed by Britannia welcome

New Stoke City man Peter Crouch says he feels flattered by the warm welcome from the club’s fans after his deadline-day move from Tottenham.

The 10-million-pound purchase was greeted by hundreds of fans at the team’s training ground when he signed on the dotted line.

“It was crazy really, and I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it before,” Crouch told the club’s official website.

“It was like half one in the morning and there were still 800 to 1000 fans out there singing my name and that was really flattering to be honest.”

“I’m very thankful for the welcome they gave me, and hopefully I can repay them out on the pitch now with performances, and goals. I will give absolutely everything I have got in every game I play in, that is for sure.”

As a former Liverpool player himself, Crouch knows the Potters face a tough task as they meet the Anfield side on Saturday, but feels his new club have the capacity to win.

‘There have been a lot of changes there, but they have settled in very well and they have started the season extremely well,” the England striker admitted.

“The players all seem to have fitted in to the system Kenny Dalglish wants to play there and they look very dangerous going forward.”

“Luis Suarez has been on fire, they have Andy Carroll there who is very talented, Craig Bellamy has just arrived from Manchester City, and I know Stewart Downing from England so they have some very good options.”

“They have strengthened, but so have we. I mean, I look around our dressing room and we have some fantastic players in there as well.”

“I know from being an opposing player that nobody enjoys coming here and playing against Stoke. It’s always an incredibly hard game to play in, so we have the belief that we can win the game.”

Stoke secured their first win of the season in their last match against West Bromwich Albion, and sit on five points from three games, two points behind Liverpool.