Pugh vows to push on

Stoke utility defender Danny Pugh wants to push on and become a first-team regular at the Britannia Stadium next term. The 26-year-old endured a frustrating start to the Premier League campaign but came more into boss Tony Pulis' plans after Christmas. He eventually started 10 games for the Potters and hopes to improve that return next term. Pugh said: "I have two years left on my contract, I want to stay here and improve my career here. "I wasn't playing at all earlier in the season and that wasn't nice but since Christmas things have picked up. Flying "Now over the summer I aim to keep myself fit and come back next season flying. I will be trying to get myself in the first team early on and really establish myself." He added: "I just want to play. At the start of the season I wasn't and that was a frustrating time for me but I aim to get my head down and work hard. "I am back in the manager's thoughts but I know that next season will be tougher with maybe a few players coming in. So I will have to work even harder. "I have been a squad player here for a while, so I need to establish myself in the team now. You always have to be ready to fill in anywhere but I do want to be a regular. "I want to test myself against the best players and I want to do that here." Team spiritPugh praised the team spirit at the Britannia, believing it was a key factor in helping the Potters earn a mid-table finish. He said: "We would have snapped peoples' hands off for a mid-table finish at the beginning of the season. But we have done that, worked hard and grafted. "Team spirit can be worth 10 points; that's what we have and that has really helped us. "We have stayed in the division and now we want to do that again next season."

Source: SKY_Sports