Waiting game for Peter Crouch

Stoke striker Peter Crouch is relishing the prospect of working with new boss Mark Hughes – but has not ruled out the prospect of a summer move away from the Britannia Stadium.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jul 2013, 09:49 BST
Stoke City's Peter CrouchStoke City's Peter Crouch
Stoke City's Peter Crouch

Hughes was named as Tony Pulis’ successor at the Potters’ helm last month, and his appointment has left Crouch keen to get started ahead of the 2013-14 season.

The 32-year-old front man said: “I’ve never really had a lot of contact with Mark Hughes but I’m really looking forward to it.

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“Mark was an awesome player and I remember watching him at Chelsea. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

The former England international is committed to Stoke until 2015, but admits a summer transfer is not beyond the realms of possibility.

“I’ve got two years on my contract, but you never know,” he added. “With my history, you just don’t know.”

England made another miserable tournament exit as Peter Taylor’s side crashed out of the the Under-20s World Cup in Turkey, beaten 2-0 by Egypt.

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Needing a victory to advance from the group stage after starting their campaign with successive draws, England failed to make their superiority count and were doomed once Trezeguet curled Egypt in front 11 minutes from time.

Ross Barkley had been denied before the break and Eric Dier did curl a free-kick against the bar midway through the second half before Harry Kane fluffed a golden chance to level.

But Hassan Ahmed’s stoppage-time effort piled further humilation onto an England outfit that slumped to the bottom of Group E as Iraq and Chile advanced.

England have now gone 16 matches without a win at this level and a summer that promised so much will instead trigger another bout of navel-gazing.

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Bayern Munich scored 15 goals in their first run-out since Pep Guardiola took charge, beating a local supporters’ club in front of 11,000 spectators.

The treble winners started with a side including captain Philipp Lahm, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, while Toni Kroos and Franck Ribery both came on at the break as Guardiola took a look at 21 players in a 15-1 victory.

Muller was on target in the first half with Kroos 
finding the back of the net in the second, but it was youngster Patrick Weihrauch who stole the show with four goals.

Related topics:EnglandPeter CrouchTony Pulis